The Miami Heat are reportedly interested in acquiring Jae Crowder if they can do it via buyout, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Crowder hasn’t played this season after he told the Suns he wanted out of Phoenix. Crowder is in the final year of his current deal.
“According to someone who has spoken to the Heat’s front office, the Heat remains interested in Jae Crowder, but only in a buyout situation, barring Phoenix shockingly taking a bad contract off Miami’s hands,” per Jackson.
The Heat is still looking to regain the identity that helped them make a run to the 2020 NBA Finals and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance against the Boston Celtics. As of Tuesday, Miami (20-18) has the seventh-best record in the East. They could use some depth at the forward position after P.J. Tucker left for the 76ers in free agency.
The Heat have also dealt with an avalanche of injuries to their core players.
When Crowder last played, he averaged 9.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 39.9 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from the three-point line. Crowder has developed a reputation as a three-and-D wing that’s value due to his playoff experience and timely shooting.
Crowder last played for Miami during their run to the 2020 NBA Finals. His familiarity with their system could help negotiations if the Suns and Heat agree on a buyout. He appeared in 20 games that season and averaged 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 44.5 percent from beyond the arc.
