Ranking Bleacher Report’s top 3 Knicks trade targets ahead of deadline
By Allen Settle
Option #3: Jae Crowder, F, PHX
Suns forward Jae Crowder is the least exciting of the three options. However, the veteran certainly fits the 3-and-D prototype the Knicks should be seeking.
Crowder has carved out a long and successful NBA career with his ability to defend well while spacing the floor. His combination of large six-foot-six, 235-pound frame, notable strength, and ability to move laterally allows him to guard several positions in the modern NBA.
The former Marquette star has also established himself as a respected shooter around the perimeter. The career 35 percent three-point shooter is averaging nearly 5.5 attempts this season. He is also just two years removed from a career-best 45 percent clip from three during the 2019-20 campaign.
Additionally, the veteran has a plethora of experience as a postseason player. Crowder currently has 107 career playoff games under his belt. This familiarity with big movements could aid New York as the team attempts to compete in big games and moments.
On the downside, Crowder is a relatively unexciting option. He has a career average of 9.6 points per contest, giving him a low overall ceiling. The former second-round pick is also 32 years old, capping his ability to make a long-term impact in New York.
Crowder’s price tag should be fairly low, with something in the ballpark of a rotation player (something New York has a surplus of since the rotation condensed) and second-round draft capital.
Adding Jae Crowder would make an impact, but how much would he realistically move the needle?