The Phoenix Suns have had more than their fair share of misfortune as it pertains to the availability of their players this season. Injuries to Chris Paul, Cam Johnson, and, most recently, Devin Booker have all but derailed the first half of their season. The troubles the Suns have faced due to this lack of availability are magnified by the slow-moving Jae Crowder situation.
Rumors have surrounded the relationship between the Suns and Crowder since June of 2022. Jake Fischer — formerly of Bleacher Report — first reported that Phoenix contacted other teams to gauge the interest in the veteran forward. Since then, things have gradually snowballed until the two parties agreed that Crowder would sit out the season until a trade was agreed upon.
Now, roughly halfway through the season, the Suns find themselves sitting on the outside of playoff position altogether. This while Jae Crowder still has yet to play a game, and the team has yet to trade him. So if Phoenix is suffering so, why have they yet to agree upon a trade?
While there are the technical aspects of a deal that still need to be figured out — such as suspended owner Robert Sarver’s role in a potential deal — there is also the matter of the Suns’ asking price, one they won’t budge on. According to, again, Jake Fisher — now with Yahoo Sports, Phoenix is seeking a playoff-caliber player in return for Crowder. Perhaps, that is the true reason a deal has not yet been found, begging the question:
Are the Phoenix Suns overvaluing Jae Crowder in trade talks?
Jae Crowder has certainly contributed to winning basketball over his career, having 55 career playoff wins. That includes 28 wins in two consecutive NBA Finals appearances between 2019-2021. From that standpoint, it’s understandable that the Suns value him — as it is also understandable that he values himself. Then, there’s his value statistically, contractually, and finally, positionally.