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[Chicagojk]

If the plan for Crowder is a salary dump (to cut down on Sarver’s $35mm tax bill), I have difficulty seeing how it happens with Dallas.  We’d need a third team to take on Powell (presumably).  A straight up trade with the Suns isn’t helping the money situation in Phoenix.  It is just swapping similarly priced players.

So, then you look for who that third team might be and the inevitable question is if they can take on Powell’s expiring $11mm, why wouldn’t they prefer Crowder’s expiring $10mm instead.  Jae’s game is much more plug and play.

If it isn’t a salary dump, but instead Phoenix is sending out a package that includes Crowder for Player X (read Durant), you end up with the same question.  Why would Brooklyn want Powell over Crowder?  The only reason would be that Dallas compensated them to make that swap, but what price would you pay for the ability to rent the 32 year old for a year?  I’m certainly in favor of the addition.  Just have trouble seeing the path.

I agree.  I don't see it happening.   I was wondering in the beginning of the summer if the Mavs had their TPE (either the one that expired or if they got one for Brunson) if that could have been an option.  Maybe it wouldn't have matched Crowder's salary?   PHX has two younger wings who they probably see as a part of their future core (if not moved in the talked about KD trade).   So I thought Crowder may be someone Sarver could reduce salary on.   With PHX bringing their team back, I think it would be smart to keep Crowder.  You can always move him during the season.  But Sarver can do strange things.  On a separate item, I wonder what PHX is going to do at backup PG.   Payne was pretty bad last year after a solid year prior.  With Chris Paul at 36, it would be nice to have a more reliable backup who can take the load off Paul in the regular season.   Maybe they can use Crowder to get a higher quality PG?

Plus, if they were to move Crowder just to get off his salary, it wouldn't be a great PR move to trade him to a West competitor....and one who embarrassed you in game 7 of the playoffs.

Edit- not sure of the Suns roster # now but they could eventually be looking at a the same minimum back up point guards that Dallas is looking at too.