As reality sets in that the Portland Trailer Blazers may not be able to afford shooting guard Allen Crabbe long-term, the Brooklyn Nets may be primed to swoop in and revisit acquiring the California product.
The Portland Trail Blazers matched the Brooklyn Nets‘ four-year, $75 million deal for 25-year-old shooting guard Allen Crabbe back on July 10, 2016.
Almost a year later, the Blazers are beginning to realize that, in the coming years, they simply can’t afford the fourth year University of California product.
So, where does this leave the Nets? Surely, general manager Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson saw something in Crabbe, after finishing with a then career-high 10.3 points per game while shooting 39.3 percent from deep in 2015-16.
Crabbe followed up signing the four-year deal with posting similar numbers, coming off the bench in 72 of his 79 games averaging 10.7 points while shooting a career-high 44.4 percent from three. Sure, some of this is from the incredible playmaking abilities of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. But, Crabbe has certainly shown to knock down the three, and be a force on the offensive end with his own playmaking abilities.
Fellow HoopsHabit writer and Portland Trail Blazers reporter Angelo Mendoza broke down what could be the ending of the Crabbe-Blazers relationship.
"“So why exactly should the Portland Trail Blazers trade away a guy that just posted career-highs in every notable statistical category? Easy answer: Allen Crabbe isn’t worth the $55 million the Blazers are set to pay over the next three years.”"
Despite Mendoza stating that Crabbe isn’t worth the now-owed $55 million the Blazers are set to pay him, the Nets certainly coveted Crabbe at that price, and a role not clogged by the ball-dominant Lillard and McCollum may be the opportunity Crabbe needs to emerge into the $75 million player the Nets thought he could be.
Mendoza continued by identifying the Nets as a potential suitor, stating their cap space and ability to take on an asset the Blazers no longer can afford could potentially be a good ending to Crabbe’s tenure in the Rose City.
"“This whole mess started when the Brooklyn Nets attempted to poach Crabbe last season with the aforementioned $75 million contract offer in restricted free agency. This offer was rightly matched by the Blazers, thereby creating a future trade chip with which they could cash in at a later date.Well it’s come time to cash that trade chip in, and what team better to do business with than the Brooklyn Nets?”"
The Nets do have a projected $30+ million in cap space, but cannot execute any deal involving Crabbe just yet. When a team exercises the right of first refusal to keep a restricted free agent, that team then cannot trade the player for one year with the team that gave the initial offer sheet.
The question does remain, however, if the Blazers are willing to give away Crabbe in what would be a salary-dump. The Nets are not in the business of giving away future assets that the Blazers may desire.
Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype.com reported earlier in the year before the trade deadline that the Blazers are looking at their cap sheet long-term, and may be incentivized to deal some long-term contracts to open up flexibility in the coming year.
"“The general manager I spoke to made it clear that Portland would listen to offers for Allen Crabbe, Evan Turner, Al-Farouq Aminu and Ed Davis among others if the potential trades allowed them to stockpile draft picks and save some money.”"
While he stated “draft picks AND save some money,” the Blazers may be able to achieve both, but in possibly different deals by dangling Crabbe or Turner.
It seems like something worth exploring for the Nets. It’s pretty likely the interest is still there, as Crabbe showed to at least live up to his career-year he had back in 2015-16.
Next: 2017 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery edition
Sean Marks certainly has options headed into the draft next month, and revisiting the possibility of acquiring Allen Crabbe is certainly something to entertain once that one-year deadline passes.