Atlanta Hawks: Jamal Crawford wants trade if Hawks don’t extend his contract
Crawford wants out of Atlanta if he doesn't get an extension.
Jamal Crawford has told the Hawks he wants to be traded before the 2010-11 season if the team doesn’t offer a contract extension to his liking, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Crawford, whose current contract expires after the season, asked the Hawks for an extension last month but has yet to receive an answer from the team. If Atlanta balks at offering Crawford what he considers an extension reflecting his market value then he would rather play elsewhere for the final season of his contract, according to the person familiar with the circumstances.
The person did not want to be identified because neither Crawford nor the Hawks have commented on his desire for an extension. Hawks GM Rick Sund, who is on vacation, declined comment tonight through a team spokesman.
Sund’s practice has been to not extend contracts for veteran players who aren’t on their rookie-scale contracts.
Crawford, 30, will make $10.1 million in 2010-11. The Hawks acquired him in a trade with Golden State last summer and he thrived in a reserve role, often finishing games alongside Joe Johnson.
Crawford averaged 18 points during the regular season and 16.3 in the playoffs, both second on the team behind Johnson. Members of the media voted Crawford the league’s Sixth Man of the Year.
According to the person familiar with the situation, Crawford prefers to stay in Atlanta after he qualified for the playoffs for the first time in his 11 NBA seasons. But without a long-term commitment from the Hawks Crawford doesn’t want to play out the final season of his contract in Atlanta, the person said.
The Hawks may not have the financial will to add an extension for Crawford to their future salary commitments.
Signing Crawford to a large extension would likely push the Hawks’ 2010-11 payroll above the salary cap. Atlanta has about $50 million in salaries committed to 2011-12, including $18 million for Johnson and $12.4 million for forward Josh Smith.
In addition to those committed salaries, the Hawks might need to maintain flexibility to retain All-Star center Al Horford. Atlanta can work out a contract extension with Horford by November; if not, he would become a restricted free agent next season and could sign an offer sheet with another team that the Hawks would have the right to match.
If the Hawks decide to trade Crawford, they likely wouldn’t have much trouble finding good value in return. His scoring ability and expiring contract make him a valuable asset for teams seeking a talented shooting guard and/or salary relief following the season.
Crawford is seeking a contract extension while his value is high, but the uncertainty surrounding the expiring collective bargaining agreement and deals signed by other top sixth men also likely are contributing to his urgency.
The current labor agreement expires after the 2010-11 season and owners are seeking major concessions from players for the new CBA. If Crawford becomes a free agent next summer, he could be facing more restrictive contract rules under the new labor deal.
In determining his market value, Crawford is likely looking to contracts signed by fellow veteran reserve guards Manu Ginobili, Jason Terry and Ben Gordon.
Ginobili, who turned 33 last month, signed a three-year extension with San Antonio in April that’s worth about $39 million. Terry was 29 when Dallas signed him to a free-agent contract for $57 million over six years. And Gordon was 26 when he signed with Detroit last summer for five years and $58 million with a player option for the final season.
MC
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299 comments Add your comment
dstdeelite
August 27th, 2010
10:46 pm
Ugh! I knew when ASG threw all that cash at JJ, they’d have issues elsewhere. I like JC, but I’m guessing he’ll be traded soon. I really hate that. He was one of the most consistent on the team. Even more so than the multi-million dollar franchise player. Ugh!!
darrell starks
August 27th, 2010
10:46 pm
It’s a shame ASG are the owners of the hawks me i wish they would sell the team, if any one think a trade for melo is a possibilty then your dreaming, ASG DO NOT WANT A CHAMPIONSHIP THEY ONLY WANT JUST 2 BE GOOD ENOUGH AND NOT LOSE ANY MONEY.
CHEAP OWNER
1.traded from 24 to 26 and 31 2 save a little money by moving from 24 to 26.
2.trade the 31pick for 3mill
3.pick 26, 31, 56, and drafted not 1 big man
4.traded chill the fith best player on the team for a second round 2 save money.
5.didn’t make and offer 2 shaq because felt scared of going over the luxury tax.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
darrell starks
August 27th, 2010
10:50 pm
JAMAL GET YOUR MONEY BRO FROM THESE CHEAP OWNER, and if any one think trading jamal is a good idea must be drinking kool aid, he was the 6 man of the year and won the hawks at least 5 or more games by him self.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
James
August 27th, 2010
10:51 pm
Hawks need to be trying to get Erick Dampier from Charlotte.
James
August 27th, 2010
10:52 pm
I love the city of Atlanta but it’s hard to root for the Hawks when the owners seem to not care about winning a championship they only care about being in the playoffs.
darrell starks
August 27th, 2010
10:55 pm
Can you imagine the second unit of bibby at 5′11 and jc 2 at 6′4 as your back court coming of the bench with moe evans at 6′5 the second unit will be weak.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
James
August 27th, 2010
10:56 pm
Hawks should trade Joe Johnson, Josh Smith & Jamal Crawford to Denver for Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin & J.R. Smith.
This deal works for both teams.
Ramon
August 27th, 2010
10:56 pm
I would definitely be interested in seeing if Denver would entertain a Crawford and Marvin for Billups and Anderson type deal.
newkid
August 27th, 2010
10:58 pm
In another vernacular, a bunch of jive owners and a chump GM deserve…, well never mind.
dstdeelite
August 27th, 2010
11:00 pm
ASG was intent on offering JJ the farm no matter what. Beyond that? Absolutely nothing. I don’t blame JC AT ALL. Why shouldn’t he want to be paid? He can put points on the board like nobody’s business. Oh and get this….he’s also the owner of this thing called a personality.
SN: There is a certain blogger on here that simply blogs for the “shock factor” of his/her comments. I usually read the first few words and move on. Complete waste of time. Seconds of my life that I’ll never get back.
darrell starks
August 27th, 2010
11:04 pm
I have always said that the mosthigh must have been watching over the hawks, because over the past three years they where the healthist team in the nba with no significantly mount of serious injury during the year.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter
August 27th, 2010
11:11 pm
Just another rich spoiled player…….but after over paying JJ…….why not ask for more !
northcyde
August 27th, 2010
11:11 pm
On the real though . . . Jamal is simply doing what he has to do. The NBA is a business. And for Jamal, he has to try to strike while his stock is at its highest.
When all of these guys are opting out and posturing for extended deals or trades, it was only inevitable that Jamal do the same.
I guess the guy on Hawksquawk, who first told the message this exact story about a month ago ( via an encounter with Sekou Smith in Kroger, of all places ), was right on the money. I guess MC’s source is strong enough for him to officially report this.
As for the ASG . . NOW we’re going to see if they’re a “big boy franchise” or not. They’ve cowered all summer to make an impact move. Now they potentially have one of the best shot creators on the team talking trade if he’s not extended.
This front office is reactive, not proactive. And they’ve been like that since Day 1. Only Billy Knight, and his ballzy move to go all out to bring JJ to Atlanta back in 2005, can be considered a gutzy, risk taking move.
Like I’ve said in the past, trading for Bibby and Crawford were relatively easy, because their teams didn’t want them anymore, and all we had to do is give them expiring contracts to get them. But Sund hasn’t made a risk-taking move since he’s been “the man”.
Horford has to be the priority though. If the ASG gives a contract of more than 7 mill per year to Crawford, I seroiusly think that Horford’s status as a Hawk will be in great jeapordy.
This is why you don’t tip-toe through the offseason. Had we secured Shaq or even Chill, a potential loss of Jamal would be far less concerning. But we don’t have Shaq or Chill . . or anybody else . . and there’s no telling what the ASG will take for Jamal ( cough ) expiring contracts ( cough ).
Jeff and Jordan . . . get ready fellas. You’re potentially about to go right into the fire. We’re skipping the frying pan, and tossing you right in the heat of battle. YOU may be officially our “2nd team”.
Damn shame.
CONFEDERATE DAWG
August 27th, 2010
11:14 pm
ATLEAST WERE BETTER THAN WE WERE…….
northcyde
August 27th, 2010
11:14 pm
And people still want to blame JJ.
News flash for you people . . . Crawford STILL would’ve done this, because he’d still not have a contract going into next summer. With Horford’s signing on the horizon, and with the players we would’ve brought in to replace JJ, this same scenario still plays out.
Jamal wants an extension. And the presence, or lack therof, of Joe Johnson doesn’t stop that process.
Astro Joe
August 27th, 2010
11:19 pm
MC, thanks. So if I understand it, there is NO way they can use the Childress-acquired asset AND remain under the luxury tax (at least not with the current salaries/roster). Or at least, it would be extremely hard to thread that needle.
I Heart Atlanta
August 27th, 2010
11:25 pm
On How the Jamal Crawford siituation will end?
I hope he stays but……..
If he demands to be traded, send him and bibby to denver for Billups and Jr Swish
Whopper Dawg
August 27th, 2010
11:26 pm
So, the strangle hold that the Johnson contract has put upon the Hawks begins. Said another way, we can’t afford to keep together what should have been a first round exit ball club.
This is becoming the epitome of how not to run a franchise.
The slide from the giddiness of getting BEATEN by Boston in 7 continues. What a joke.
CraZyTraDeMaN
August 27th, 2010
11:28 pm
At least the Hawks did something good enough to make a headline. If you dont like your deal keep your mouth shut play it out then leave but, now that you opened your moth with demands I’d trade his ___. Hope they can pull something off decent b/c without Jamal we might only be an 8 seed.
Rufus1
August 27th, 2010
11:28 pm
Trade
The only trade we should make for Jamal is one the Makes the Hawks better at a weakness. The Hawks are strong at SG and Weak at PG and back-up center.
The best trade Crawford for Billips…Billups would bring the thing the Hawks lack the most LEADERSHIP and it is a trade Sund would do.
The 2nd best trade Crawford for Rudy Fernandez and Prizbilla…Rudy would replace Jamal as a shooter and Prizbilla would offer much needed size.
Either trade keeps are “CORE” intact and allows flexibility for next year.
IF THE TRADE DOESN’T IMPROVE WEAKNESS, MAKE HIM PLAYOUT THE YEAR.
truthspitter
August 27th, 2010
11:36 pm
To anyone mentioning Billups he is not worth it at this point. I have been watching the World Championships and he gets beat anytime the opposition cares to beat him. If you watch you will see that.
SteveW
August 27th, 2010
11:40 pm
This is a great scenario, really.
Jamal, Marvin and 2 1st picks for “Melo
Sign Gilder, Hayes, Wilkens, Carney to take Marvin’s spot – behind ‘Melo
Move Mo’ down to 2 behind JJ – where he belongs.
Trade Bibby for Dampier – 2 years MLE
Sign Watson, Johnson etc. to take Bibbs place
Your under luxury tax for this year
You have 4 All Star Caliber players
You have a good bench – Tremendous Frontcourt rotation in Smoove, Al, ZaZa, and now Dampier.
You compete legitimately for a NBA Championship this year – with 3 of your Stars 26 or younger – Can’t lose – do it guys!
Ted Striker
August 27th, 2010
11:41 pm
This is probably JC just listening to his agent — who is in all fairness — earning his keep.
That said, the best tactic for the Hawks is to do nothing right now in regards to a contract until they see how the season plays out. They have the upper hand.
Michael Cunningham
August 27th, 2010
11:47 pm
@AJ: they could do it. as an example, normally under the CBA if the Hawks trade with a team over the cap that team can take $5 million in salary and send out $3.65 mil (125% plus $100k). that would carve out an extra 1.3 or so under the tax threshold for the Hawks (5 minus 3.65) , for a total of $4 million under the tax (the 2.7 they already had plus the 1.3 difference in salaries of the traded players). so the Hawks actually could use the full Chills TPE to acquire a second $3 million player and not pay the tax (and also not have to send out a player).
make sense?
SteveW
August 27th, 2010
11:49 pm
Sample team with the above 2 realistic trades:
PG – Teague/Earl Watson
SG – JJ and Mo’ Evans
SF – Carmelo and Jarvis Hayes
PF – Smoove/ZaZa/Powell
C- Horford/Dampier
We’re under the luxury tax for this year
We’re a Championship caliber young team
We enter luxury tax next year, depending on CBA – who knows, they may Grandfather certain things and situations in – like if your not under luxury tax before the new CBA, and don’t sign new players that are more expensive, you can’t be in luxury tax etc.
But we may have to in re-signing Horford
But we may be willing to with an NBA Championship in our grasp…..
Just Do It!
Bluestreak
August 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
I don’t see that JJ’s contract has anything to do with this. Old Crawford would still be demanding a trade, since Sund doesn’t extend contracts other than rookie contracts (as MC noted he doesn’t). Stop blaming JJ and his contract. There would be as much or more screaming if we had let him leave.
Crawford is making a power play. He’ll turn into a legit center so Al can play his natural position. The Hawks need to take advantage of his career year and get what they can for him.
truthspitter
August 27th, 2010
11:50 pm
People you have to look years ahead to gauge luxury tax and Melo would put the Hawks over luxury if we sign him and intend to keep him past this year. He is not worth going over luxury for in the future. He also is not worth giving up Josh or Al for which could keep us under luxury but really make us take a step back on the court because he plays absolutely no defense
Michael Cunningham
August 27th, 2010
11:52 pm
@ I Heart Atlanta: if Jamal is really intent on not playing out his contract in Atlanta, which seems to be the case, then a trade seems to be the only likely recourse for the Hawks. it’s tough to have an unhappy player around. i think there will be a market for Jamal as long as his demand for an extension doesn’t also apply to his new team, which almost certainly isn’t the case since he has to know that would make a trade 10x more difficult.
no prediction on where he ends up. let’s see what happens.
SteveW
August 27th, 2010
11:54 pm
I like Jamal, as anyone who reads these blogs knows – but a perfect storm is brewing for us to acquire the 1 or 2 pieces we need to be Championship caliber (barring injury).
Boston had to have Kevin Garnett handed to them to win a championship
LA Lakers had to have Pau Gaso handed to them to win a championship
We may have to pay a stiff price to acquire Carmelo – Marvin, Jamal, and 2 1st picks let’s say – and of course ‘Melo has to sign the 3 year extension
But we are then championship caliber – especially if we get Dampier as well.
truthspitter
August 27th, 2010
11:56 pm
Steve: Carmelo does not make us a championship caliber team.
BravesFan79
August 28th, 2010
12:04 am
Anyone thinking a Rookie can replace the shooting that Jamal gives us is WRONG!! He makes us a much stronger team.
SteveW
August 28th, 2010
12:08 am
I don’t particularly like Carmelo’s style of play
He has some weaknesses – Defense only when he wants to, not a good jumper, injured some etc.
He’s the 3rd best SF in the NBA behind LeBron and Durant
He’s only 26
I can overlook his weaknesses because I smell a championship!
Or we can debate Boone, Elson, Skinner, Sy ad infitum and whether we are now the #3 seed or the #6 seed in the East.
I say go for it – win the championship!
Gearon Jr. said he would go into luxury tax for the right player – here you are!
SteveW
August 28th, 2010
12:14 am
Bravesfan79 – which rookie are you referring to – Jo Crawford? I agree – I would replace Jamal with Mo’ Evans – and sign one of the many decent SF’s to be backup at 3.
Truthspitter – I beg to differ, especially if we acquire another quality big, as Smoove and Al have asked for.
In our lineup we would have:
The 3rd best SF in the NBA
The 4th best SG in the NBA
The 4th best C in the NBA
And the 7th best PF in the NBA
We would have quality wing backups in Jarvis Hayes (for example), Mo’ Evans, and 1 in training with JorCrawford.
We would have a killer Front court Rotation with Smoove, Al, ZaZa, and Dampier
We could beat any team in the League in a 7 game series with our quality depth, and the 4 relentless starters.
The Truth
August 28th, 2010
12:24 am
MC: This statement
“Sund’s practice has been to not extend contracts for veteran players who aren’t on their rookie-scale contracts.”
Didn’t Sund offer JJ an extension? That contract wasn’t his rookie-scale contracts. What am I missing here before I rant.
truthspitter
August 28th, 2010
12:25 am
Steve: First of all, just because some clowns at Ball Don’t Lie rank them like that does not make it true. I would actually put Joe 3, and Al 2. On the other hand, Carmelo has played with some Hall of Fame guys like A.I. and not gotten it done. He now plays with “Mr. Big Shot” and can’t get it done. I’m sure Denver thought they were loaded with A.I., Kenyon Martin, Nene, and Carmelo. Carmelo is not that good because he doesn’t bring anything defensively.
UGA
August 28th, 2010
12:26 am
I hope we keep him but……..our boy Flip Murray is still available for cheaper.
Timbo
August 28th, 2010
12:27 am
Force Jamal to play or retire, and then trade him at the deadline if he doesn’t retire . . .
bigcalidawg
August 28th, 2010
12:28 am
Who is Wilson Chandler?
SteveW
August 28th, 2010
12:33 am
Truthspitter – I totally understand your point. But what’s your solution – sign Jamal to an extension?
Trade him realistically for who?
Make him play unhappy here in ATL?
I still think Carmelo makes us a force – and we can move Mo’ to 2
And yes, I’m for re-signing Flip if the conditions were right
And please, no more Rudy Fernandez trades – the guy wants to be in Europe – why trade 1 unhappy player for another?
Najeh Davenpoop
August 28th, 2010
12:34 am
Wilson Chandler is not that much better than Marvin, if at all, and Eddy Curry is flat-out awful in every way shape and form.
mikeyM
August 28th, 2010
12:34 am
Let him play out his contract. If he is slack then it will hurt his options.
ATLPhotog
August 28th, 2010
12:35 am
Ya’ll don’t understand…all this movement is because of the CBA. If CRawford would think his value would skyrocket if he played out that last year and help Hawks get to the Finals (I know, I know). The CBA will be worked out because the league has so much invested in TV, merchandising ,etc. They have to have a deal worked out or they take too big of a marketing hit. (meaning each team)
Owners and execs will make sure that this won’t happen. Players are always fearful when this contract expires because they don’t know what will happen. Think LOGICALLY!!! Jamal take a two year extension if possible, win a championship. Keep the money (cap) available for a BIG. We are extremely close to having the team we need to beat Orlando, Boston and even Miami. The chemistry is there. Let’s hope the coaching and defense will be.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 28th, 2010
12:36 am
“Anyone thinking a Rookie can replace the shooting that Jamal gives us is WRONG!! He makes us a much stronger team.”
He doesn’t have to replace what Jamal brings; he just has to come close. I can easily see Jordan putting up 11-12 ppg off the bench if given minutes in the 20s. All the bench scoring doesn’t have to come from one guy.
SteveW
August 28th, 2010
12:37 am
The Knicks and Nets have the cash to spend for Jamal and over pay for his extension – he will be 31 at the end of the season, when SG’s with his skill set tend to dramatically decline.
Maybe the Nets would throw Troy Murphy at us for Jamal….
SteveW
August 28th, 2010
12:38 am
Najeh – I agree – but even if we thought he was raw – move Mo’ to the 2 and sign Hayes, Carney, Wilkens or somebody at backup 3
ATLPhotog
August 28th, 2010
12:38 am
Either use Marvin as trade bait to get a quality BIG or a productive SF who can bring quality minutes/score and defend.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 28th, 2010
12:39 am
“We may have to pay a stiff price to acquire Carmelo – Marvin, Jamal, and 2 1st picks let’s say”
That is not at all a stiff price. Adding Carmelo to the Hawks’ current top 3 makes them, at worst, a conference finals contender, which means those first round picks would be in the mid- to late-20s. If the Hawks can actually manage to get Melo without giving up Smoove or Al they would be idiots not to pull the trigger.
SteveW
August 28th, 2010
12:39 am
Then we could bring JoCrawford along more slowly if needed – and no, I’m not trying to sound like Woody – he was drafted 27th not 19th, 11th etc.
ATLPhotog
August 28th, 2010
12:41 am
Jamal knows most 1st year players have to learn the system and get use to the travel situation. Very few can get a starting role and finish the way Crawford does.
SteveW
August 28th, 2010
12:42 am
Najeh – Co-sign – I’ve been screaming it for days, even before the Jamal story hit.
We have the pieces that the Nuggets are looking for – Draft picks, youth (Marvin) and a very good player – Jamal.
But don’t trade Al or Smoove to get him….