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.

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

299 comments Add your comment

JeJe

August 28th, 2010
8:33 am

So if Crawford wants to be traded, does he want an extension from the new team or what?

Pathetic that ASG hasn’t even answered his request

Worst front office in sports

Hmmm

August 28th, 2010
8:34 am

Yessir! and all we give up is Crawford, Bibby, Marvin, Mo, and some 1st rounders. It works for both teams as long as Melo agrees to singn an extension in ATL and Denver agrees to offer Jamal an extension or trade him to a team that will. Denver gets a Starting PG with a shorter contract, a Young SF in Marvin, and a decent backup SG/SF in Mo with an expiring contract. How could they not like it? Besides, the Denver post is saying that with the new GM coming in and Melo leaving, the Nuggets will probably trade everybody and rebuild.

JoJo the Godfather

August 28th, 2010
8:34 am

Sam Amico via Twitter: “Hawks not worried about Jamal Crawford seeking trade report. They will offer him an extension next week, and confident agreement will follow.”

JeJe

August 28th, 2010
8:35 am

MC,

CAN WE PLEASE SIGN DJ MBENGA? HE’D BE AN AMAZING PLAYER TO HAVE. DJ MBENGA IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST TO HAVE. I CAN’T UNDERSTAND ANYONE WHO DOESN’T WANT HIM

JustAThought

August 28th, 2010
8:41 am

I would be cautious about a deal for Melo. He is a UFA after this season, and he is holding the cards in Denver, meaning he and his people have an idea where he will and will not play. Denver managemnet has waited too long to make a move with him. He is calling the shots, and I haven’t heard the hawks mentioned as a team of interest. Denver is going to want Al/Smoove if not both.

pedro el gitano

August 28th, 2010
8:57 am

por favor,retened a crawford a toda costa,es un lujo verle jugar!!!y si se cambia x alguien que sea por carmelo anthony!!!

bwash21

August 28th, 2010
9:01 am

f’him – let him sit out. You have one good year with your new team and put demands out there like this? Your on a playoff team for the first time and this is how you act?
I had respect for him until this. Trade him to Greece for a box of new balls.

hawks_for_life

August 28th, 2010
9:03 am

Because he is garbage?

KP

August 28th, 2010
9:08 am

JustAThought

August 28th, 2010
9:17 am

It amazes me that you guys don’t think that Denver is not going to require in return Al/Smoove in a trade for Melo………………and if I would guess it would be Al .

Spud Webb

August 28th, 2010
9:20 am

Jamal, I have an idea for you. STFU, make your 10 million, play your butt off and then leave. What a flippign baby. Classic NBA player, theres no I in team. I feel HORRIBLE For you, only 10 million???

Spud Webb

August 28th, 2010
9:20 am

Just A thought, you’re correct, one of those two would have to be included for Melo.

Hmmm

August 28th, 2010
9:24 am

JustAThought , Denver doesn’t have any leverage. If Carmelo refuses to sign with them then they have to get some kind of value for him. Just think of it as karma. We got lowballed by PHX for chills so now it’s time for some just desserts.

Even if we do give Jamal an extension, that doesn’t stop us from trading him to Denver for Carmelo. It actually makes it easier to trade him because we won’t have to find a team willing to give him that extension just a team that will accept his longer contract.

Hmmm

August 28th, 2010
9:26 am

With that being said, Carmelo is a high maintenance player who does come with a lot of baggage smh.

Hmmm

August 28th, 2010
9:27 am

If we can just get rid of Bibby/Mo for Billups i’ll be happy.

dub366

August 28th, 2010
9:27 am

Joe need to give up some money if he want Jamal to stay ,but that not going to happen ,because Jamal take the limelight from Joe at time. let’s see how much Joe want to win.

doc

August 28th, 2010
9:29 am

so you trade jamal for melo and think that is an upgrade on attitude?

melo is leaving because of his wife’s work? what if it doesnt work in atl for her? why will atlanta and the hawks be better than denver?

how do you keep al horford and still keep jj and josh with melo?

who is crazy enough to think we can afford that and billups, too?

Hmmm

August 28th, 2010
9:41 am

*slowly raises hand and looks around* LOL

You never know. Oh, what? This is the ASG (-_-)

Dub C

August 28th, 2010
9:42 am

JeJe, I agree with you. I’ve always liked Mbenga. He just needs playing time.

It’s time to get something in return for Crawford, while his stock is high. I don’t think the Hawks will go into luxury territory for him. I think Jo. Crawford provide decent numbers off the bench, but not replace him. Also realize this, we won’t have Woodson there to kill Jo. Crawford’s confidence like he’s done to so many young players we’ve had over the last few years.

Also, we can go get Flip !!!

JerryWest

August 28th, 2010
9:51 am

Flip Murray is available for minimum.

Nick P.

August 28th, 2010
9:54 am

you have to sign this guy, its a no risk extension, he is awesome and in reality will not cost as much as the top tier players! if you can give people like Marvin W. and other unproven commodities millions, surly you can given a proven awesome player like crawford what he needs to stay here. This guy was the leagues best sixth man last year, and is easily a starter on all other teams in the league, come on Hawks, lets not go backwards over money, you are already behind teams like orlando, boston, miami, cant afford to lose jamal and go back wards to 7 or 8 spot in the playoffs assuring a one round exit!

Nick P.

August 28th, 2010
10:00 am

Melo will not ever come to atlanta, so please stop making unrealistic comments, when was the last time a star in the NBA chose atlanta as their team? with the type of ownership we have and frankly what the top teams in the league have, melo will laugh at coming to atlanta!
Jamal canbe easily extended here, but unless we draft a star out of college, we will always attract players like joe j. and josh smith, at best second tier stars, forget about big names here, our history proves this!

bigdave

August 28th, 2010
10:07 am

“Gearon has clearly said he would go over the tax for “the right guy”. Maybe he’s full of sh-t, who knows. ”

i think he and his potna’s have clearly shown the latter to be true.

SteveW

August 28th, 2010
10:09 am

Jamal to the Nets for Troy Murphy

The Nets have 4 PF’s – 1 has to go

Salaries match

We have a sick Front Court rotation of Smoove, Al, ZaZa, and Murphy

We make teams play to our strengths like LD said

We move Mo’ to 2, backs up JJ

Sign Jarvis Hayes to back up Marvin

Even sign Flip if you want to assuage Hawks fans, and in a good PR move.

You now have an extremely good team

Al and Smoove are happy with that 1 impact rebounder – over 11+ PG last season

Make that move if you don’t want to try and get ‘Melo

JeJe

August 28th, 2010
10:09 am

GIVING MARVIN AND BIBBY 7.5M AND 6M RESPECTIVELY TO DO NOTHING BUT WON’T GIVE HORFORD OR CRAWFORD AN EXTENSION UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE OR AT ALL

LOL

scottyfloze

August 28th, 2010
10:09 am

THis could be a blessing. Jamal has great one on one skills but isn’t that what we are getting away from? He doesn’t pass, play defense, and happens to play the same position as Joe Johnson.

SteveW

August 28th, 2010
10:12 am

Getting Troy Murphy, your still under luxury tax

Moving Mo’ to SG makes sense

SteveW

August 28th, 2010
10:15 am

With our cap numbers, I will be shocked if we offer Jamal anything over 3 years, 14m – less than 5m per year on average.

The guy will be 34 at the end of a 3 year extension.

I don’t think Sund wants two aging, overpaid SG’s on the same roster in a few years.

steve brown

August 28th, 2010
10:48 am

Rick Sund was going to study the roster and then make moves. The only moves seem to be forced. Dump Sund and if the reports are true I won’t bitch about your Jamal trade scenarios again. You win, I’m throwing in the towel.

Section 303

August 28th, 2010
10:48 am

Jerry West, I don’t know if you’re serious or not about Flip Murray, but I would love to see the Hawks re-sign him. I would take Flip over Mo Evans without having to think twice, that’s for sure.

Like so many of these stupid proposed lineups on here, it will never happen, though.

Hoops

August 28th, 2010
11:07 am

SteveW & Hmmm,

I love your passion for improving the Hawks. I share that passion. There are a lot of possibilities out there. Just remember that Rick Sund is on vacation. By the time he gets off vacation, all of the players you are considering, to acquire through a trade for the Hawks, will already be traded.

[...] told the Hawks that he either wants an extension or to be traded before the season starts. From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Jamal Crawford has told the Hawks he wants to be traded before the 2010-11 season if the [...]

JoJo the Godfather

August 28th, 2010
11:23 am

I think its funny that Jamal Crawford is demanding a trade…He has no leverage…Its not like he’s going to sit out the year…I guess his only recourse is to refuse to re-sign with us next year…Most of us doubt he’ll even be given the chance to re-sign next year…I think this is great for Hawks fans though because it forces Sund in to action…However, the one result I do not want to see is Crawford overpaid.

David

August 28th, 2010
11:26 am

At some point I think the Hawks need to start over with their starting five, we got Joe for a while,hopefully we will have Horford to. I will be glad to see Marvin and Josh leave and we get a point guard that can PLAY HIS POSITION THAT’S NOT PAST HIS PRIME —–>Bibby,(still can’t believe we passed up Derron and CP3 back court could have been deadly) get a CENTER so Horford can go to his natural position. As far as Crawford I hope they keep him unless we can get equal value back, that’s a lot of points that would be leaving our average bench…

jason

August 28th, 2010
11:27 am

Jamal please dont go. Cmon now atl doesnt have any money. Wait till next year for an extension but for now we dont have any money

jason

August 28th, 2010
11:28 am

Trade some marvin and mo for cash so we can still resign horford and jamal.

N.D.T.K.A.

August 28th, 2010
11:33 am

Remember Sund and ASG want to keep the Hawks “core” intact. I don’t think Jamal C. is really a part of that “core”. Jamal would be traded at the deadline anyway for whatever need the Hawks might have for a playoff push after analysis by L.Drew and some developement of Jordan C.

No complaints about a trade for Melo, just don’t think it would be that easy as Nuggets as some have said would definitely want more ala Josh S. or Al H. Melo’s wife use to be a DJ in Atlanta with LudaCris back in the day that history might entice him to play here. Melo probably wants to go to N.Y., probably.

Melo’ would be good because in playoff basketball he is definitely clutch. Melo is not afraid to make big time shots and to D-up in crunch time (look at last years battle with Lebron in Cleveland). This would take pressure off J.J. Melo’s is definitely not a regular defensive minded player though.

The problem is still Mike Bibby’s contract IMHO. Bibby and Jamal are defensive liabilities. Crawford provides more to the team than Bibby. If Hawks move Crawford and receive unequal value I would also want to move Bibby and or Mo’s contract to open up room to sign an upgrade at SF, C, or PG in that order and for budget flexibility.

Keep Crawford until the trade deadline or move him early for the right piece. Please get rid of Mike Bibby and or Mo’.

ReddJonn68

August 28th, 2010
11:39 am

Hey M C this is our organization in a nut shell !!! Whether Crawford has leverage or not, this is once again Sund’s mishandling of a pressing situation. You already screwed up by extending Bibby & Marvin, so when you get a decent veteran on the team who was excited about making his first playoff,winning some games & producing everynight, Sund acts blind. You do not do the right thing by extending his contract at least a couple of yrs., then you overpay those who don’t produce in the playoffs & draft another shooting guard. Now I see why the Hawks cannot seem to draw any major cosideration from the top of the line players, this place must seem like never never land, who would put themselves in this position considering what Jamal did for this team last season.

KeuntrezC

August 28th, 2010
11:44 am

jamal needs to get traded for a good center we have jordan crawford who is a capable scorer and jeff teague will be a better player if he gets more playing time.

willie

August 28th, 2010
11:55 am

The guy shot 36% in the playoffs and he is demanding an extension….unreal.

drmaryb (*_*)

August 28th, 2010
12:19 pm

Eddie Curry

Is hiding out in Pakistan with Osama Bin Laden. There is another
arrest warrant out for him for being in contempt of court for not paying for his
12 cars. His Chicago home was foreclosed upon, he made 10M
last year, but refuses to pay any creditors.

His Satellite TV equipment was reposessed, he even refuses to pay his $1700/per mont cable bill! This guy is a HOT MESS and a DEAD BEAT w/absolutely no brains nor character.

Curry, played in like 4 GAMES last year and 3 GAMES the year before that.
Players Choice not to play, claims he is injured. The Knicks owe him
13M next year and you want the HAWKS to do WHAT?

Go research the player – you WISH for! You just might get your WISH!

Go Figure!

This ASKG should be ashamed of themselves!
SMDH!

northcyde

August 28th, 2010
12:20 pm

SteveW’s proposal of Crawford + Marvin + two #1s for Melo, is definitely a risk taking move.

And one worth throwing to the Nuggets. And a deal I would do in a heartbeat.

People crying to keep Jamal and blaming JJ for this situation? LOL.

I guess his one good game vs Orlando makes him a keeper, despite the fact that he shot 36% FG for the entire playoffs. That’s even lower than the pitiful 39% FG that JJ shot. Yet, Jamal gets a complete pass from 80% of the fan base.

The ASG will never do it, because they refuse to go over the tax. But having the chance to add a superstar in Melo, without giving up Smoove, Al, or JJ, is a move worth taking.

Melo would instantly become our best post up player, and an extra guy we could to in the clutch.

All I know, is that if we sign Crawford before Horford, don’t be surprised if Horford’s camp starts talking about wanting to be traded at the end of the year.

Because of the uncertainty of the new collective bargaining agreement coming up, and the very real possibility of a “hard cap”, these players are simply trying to secure deals.

I’m not mad at Jamal for doing what he’s doing. He has to look out for what is in the best interest for him, not what is in the best interest of the Hawks.

ryan

August 28th, 2010
12:24 pm

I think Mello would not mind coming to Atlanta because his wife wants to start a music career and with Usher and LA Reed and Def Jam South they can make that happen .

Wolverine

August 28th, 2010
12:26 pm

The ASG have a dilemma right now. They know they absolutely must sign Horford to a contract extension to avoid losing him to teams with money in the summer. And they want to have a product on the floor that can get the fans excited and contend for a title. The more and more this summer plays out proves one point. THey have to pay the luxury tax to do both.

Jamal Crawford will be traded, b/c the Hawks cant stay below the luxury tax signing him and horford now the real question is who do we trade him for?

If this was inception we could simply plant the idea to trade Jamal, Marvin, and two 1st rounders for Carmelo and Affalo, but this is not the movies.

hawkfan

August 28th, 2010
12:37 pm

drmaryb (*_*)

August 28th, 2010
12:46 pm

Out To Lunch!
Gone for The Day!

Whether Sundless is on vacation or not, Nothing get’s done!
Why not go ahead and extend Horford now to put that to rest, whatever deal he gets, he can always be traded if need be. He is a very valuable asset, no matter how you look at it!

Then, focus on building this team from there. Make these guys feel wanted, like you wanted Joe Johnson. Jamal, would probably negotiate a reasonable and tradeable contract as well.

Where was all this hesitation with signing Bibby, Zsa and Marvin?
Or, Cheeseburger for that matter.

What do you want to do – ASKG?
Besides being the: Atlanta Spirit Killer Group?

I.MUS WRITE

August 28th, 2010
12:47 pm

Cant blame jamal for wanting an extension with the season he had. I mean he is 30 and with the CBA next summer why not ask for an extension. Dont see it happening though we need to make Horford our priority right now. Thanx for your contributions Jamal its been real.
If JJ is worth 20+ mil a year Jamal should get a raise. We will probably sign J Pargo to be the gunner off the bench, He’s cheap……
Dampier would be a nice option at thys poins but something tells me Brian Skinner will be signed in the coming days.
Melo is not coming here but just for the record I would move any combinationof bibby,marvin,Jamal,Mo,ZaZa in a trade to get him.

Melo-Pargo>>>> Marvin- Jamal

K-Dogg

August 28th, 2010
12:55 pm

Do your thing Crawford i feel you our cheep owners not going to commit to win so why be here plus your production speaks for itself. If they going to use your contract as trade bait go ahead and trade you know.

SIPPTOWN

August 28th, 2010
1:00 pm

In the words of Deion Sanders:

“PAY DA MAN!!!!!”

Hawks are a sub .500 team without Jamal Crawford.

terrell

August 28th, 2010
1:02 pm

See ya Jamal. Jo Craw and Pape Sy can hopefully replace you.