Jae Crowder hasn't generated much interest in NBA free agency this offseason, sitting available and ready to sign with less than six weeks until Opening Night, however, the 34-year-old could be on the move with one of the Western Conference's more fringe-contending franchises giving him a look.
Crowder is scheduled to work out with the Sacramento Kings this week, per FOX40's Sean Cunningham, which would officially close the door on a two-year run spent with the Milwaukee Bucks. Crowder would become just the latest of multiple seasoned veterans Sacramento has considered, including ex-Boston Celtics teammate Isaiah Thomas -- Thomas worked out with the Kings in August in hopes of an audition.
Milwaukee utilized Crowder's 3-point shooting and defensive persistence in a part-time starter's/reserve unit role -- Crowder started in 25-of-50 appearances. He averaged 6.2 points with 3.2 rebounds while shooting 42.2% from the field and 34.9% from beyond the arc, but that role shrunk along with the Bucks' rotations throughout their first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Crowder logged 10.5 minutes in four appearances although the series went six games, averaged 2.3 points and endured a first-round exit, directing him and the organization to the offseason.
Crowder is no stranger to the West, returning after a two-year stint with the Phoenix Suns, including a failed trip to the NBA Finals -- the Bucks won in six games. Granted, Crowder's responsibility, if signed by Sacramento, would inherently grow as the Kings have yet to establish themselves as a legitimate threat in the conference; certainly not to the level of rivals such as the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves or the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sacramento last booked a trip to the playoffs in 2023 and suffered a first-round elimination at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, the first time the Kings secured playoff contention in 17 years.
Pending Sacramento bounces back from its modest 46-36, No. 9 seed conference finish and does compete next season, it'll continue Crowder's ongoing reputation of landing with competitive, playoff-hungry organizations, including his three-year tenure with the then-underdog Celtics.
