NBA trade rumors: 5 deals that land Jae Crowder on a Playoff team

NBA Trade: Suns get deeper, Jae Crowder bolsters Timberwolves bench.

That pesky depth issue makes two-for-one deals all the more intriguing for Phoenix. The fact that Crowder is making $10.2 million helps their ability to make such a deal since this is slightly higher than the mid-level exception that many teams use to sign impact role players and vets. In this trade with Minnesota, Crowder shifts back to his natural small forward position while contributing to a team that considers itself a title contender following recent transactions.

Crowder makes sense as the Sixth Man in Minnesota, where two centers are starting in the frontcourt and a natural shooting guard, Anthony Edwards, is starting at small forward. Modern basketball makes it so these positional definitions don’t matter so much, but having lineup versatility and impact defenders off the bench matters and Crowder offers those without a doubt.

Phoenix kills two birds with one stone. It acquires Taurean Prince at a discount due to his arrest over the summer. He doesn’t seem concerned with the situation at all, and the deal is obviously contingent on Phoenix doing its due diligence, but he’d offer some impactful defense and size off the bench alongside a true floor general in Jordan McLaughlin. One of the lesser-known backup point guards in the league, McLaughlin is a relentless ball-hound and sharp passer.