This could turn into real a game of musical chairs in the Crawford trade.
But that hasn’t stopped teams from expressing interest. NBA teams like the Clippers, Nuggets and Hawks are currently engaged in a three-team trade talks, according to multiple reports. Which includes the sign-and-trade of Danilo Gallinari to Los Angeles, while Atlanta would scoop up a first round pick and take back the contract of Crawford.
While his path back to the Bay Area is not crystal clear. The former Sixth Man of the Year, is expected to pursue a buyout or another trade.
Crawford’s avenue to join the Warriors may seem like the most likely route to take. With the Hawks in a complete rebuild, the price of keeping Crawford for one year doesn’t seem likely.
With friends on the Warriors and rings on the line, I have to believe if he gets the choice, this time Crawford would prefer a shot at his first NBA title with the Warriors. Although there’s a chance Crawford never gets that chance.
He has two years and nearly $29 million left on his current deal. Only $3 million is guaranteed on the second year. So if the Hawks were to buy him out this summer, they’d owe him about $17.2 million.
Executive Travis Schlenk, would need Crawford to give a chunk of that $17.2 million back in order to work out an agreement. And now ESPN’s Chris Haynes is reporting that teams like the Cavaliers and Spurs have reached out to Atlanta about a possible trade.
“Sources informed ESPN that Crawford would seek an immediate buyout and the Warriors would be the front-runners for his services if they still possessed the taxpayer mid-level exception of $5.2 million.”
According to Haynes and Spears, Atlanta will look to trade Crawford and the Warriors will have plenty of competition for his services from other top contenders and some teams looking to improve their standing in playoff rankings.
Another thing to consider in the Crawdford trade, the Hawks will not be willing to payout the rest of his contract. Even if he’s willing to make concessions on what he’s paid out.
“The Hawks, sources say, would prefer to trade Crawford to receive some form of compensation in return. The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks, have suddenly become interested in acquiring him, league sources say.”
There are so many hoops to jump through in regards to this trade. I guess we will have to wait to see if the former Sixth Man lands in Oakland.