It wasn’t that long ago when NBA teams would give up a lot just to sign a hot commodity like Jamal Crawford.
Almost a month into the 2018-20 NBA regular season, however, the three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner remains in the free-agent list and seems to be out of the radar of all 30 teams.
In a recent tell-all piece published by Marc Stein of The New York Times, Crawford said it’s baffling that a number of quality NBA veterans are still without a team.
“Take myself out of it,” Crawford said, citing names of once coveted free-agents like Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Kenneth Faried and J.R. Smith, who are also on the same boat as him. The 15-year vet also mentioned the case of Jeremy Lin, who moved on to the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association, months removed from winning a title with the Toronto Raptors.
“You still have a ton of quality guys out there. That’s something that’s a little alarming for me,” he shared.
Now 39 years old, Crawford still possesses the uncanny ability to produce quick buckets off the bench for every NBA contender out there. However, most teams fear that his defensive shortcomings far outweigh his value at the other end of the floor.
Crawford appeared in 64 games for the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging 7.2 points in around 18 minutes per contest. He has a total of 19,414 career points 00 which is the most by a player to never make an All-Star team.
Crawford is also ranked second all-time in career points scored off the bench — trailing Lou Williams who became his successor as the league's best player coming off the bench.
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