4 Raptors trade targets after missing out on Bojan Bogdanovic
By Mike Luciano
2. Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns
This one might be the most likely to come true. Not only is Crowder one of those players that Ujiri often fawns over due to his physical attributes, but the Suns have made it very clear that they are looking to trade the Marquette alum if the right offer falls into their lap.
Crowder might not be the most offensively diverse player in the world, but he’s built quite a solid career on the back of tough defensive play and his ability to contribute to winning basketball. In 10 years as an NBA player, Crowder has made the playoffs nine times. That’s worth going after if he’s on the market.
Jae Crowder could slot in perfectly with the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors may need to jettison some guaranteed contracts in order to free up the minutes and cap space required to bring Crowder on. He’s not a volume scorer, but he can beat the stuffing out of wing players over the course of a game while showing off a silky smooth 3-point jumper when in rhythm.
While it seems odd that Phoenix is deciding to trade Crowder now, they appear motivated to get some bargain struck in the next few weeks. The Raptors will not be the only contender after Crowder, which should motivate Ujiri to pursue this line of inquiry with James Jones.