On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Sacramento Kings were closing on a deal to acquire veteran forward Jae Crowder.
The former Boston Celtics and Miami Heat forward is a known commodity in the NBA regular season and playoffs. He has been to the Finals twice, once with the Miami Heat and once with the Phoenix Suns.
Crowder sure got comfortable quickly. He hit a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first quarter in his first action with the Kings.
Crowder brings toughness, leadership and high-level wing defense. He will instantly add a new dimension to the Kings’ bench. However, at 34, it will be interesting to see if Crowder can sustain the Kings’ tempo within their style of play.
Sacramento is on the cusp of being a contending team. Minor tweaks can go a long way when a team is this close to being one of the elite. Crowder could be the type of veteran addition that takes the team to another level, not only because of his on-court abilities but also due to his experience and competitive nature.
Head coach Mike Brown will undoubtedly welcome any new additions to the roster. The Kings have struggled to remain healthy since the season began, and finding an experienced veteran to fill the void isn’t always possible. Crowder’s addition should be seen by the front office as intelligent business. After all, it’s a low-risk, high-reward type of move.
They won’t have lost much if Crowder doesn’t work out in Sacramento. But, if he finds a way to make a significant contribution, the Kings could bounce back in a big way.
Sometimes, you need to roll the dice, and for a Kings team looking to convince De’Aaron Fox he can win with the franchise, this feels like the perfect time to test their luck.