In Tom Haberstroh’s eyes, the Warriors could use another player who brings some aggression. That’s why if he’s willing to sign under a mid-level exception, he believes Jae Crowder would be a perfect fit for the Warriors.
On the surface, most observers would credit Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic and Tyler Herro as the players most responsible for the Miami Heat's run to the 2020 NBA Finals.
But Draymond Green wants you to put some respect on another name: Jae Crowder.
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Crowder isn't flashy, but he's the bulldog every successful team needs. His production doesn't necessarily show up in the stat sheet, but Draymond is right. Crowder has been immensely valuable to the Heat during their time in the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla.
Crowder entered Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday averaging 12.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 26.5 minutes in the series. In Miami's 115-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Crowder finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes. He was plus-21 in the victory.
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It's interesting that Draymond would bring up Crowder because NBC Sports NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh believes the impending free agent would be a perfect fit for the Warriors.
"To me Jae Crowder would be a wonderful fit with the Golden State Warriors," Haberstroh told NBC Sports Bay Area's Grant Liffmann last week. "A 3-and-D guy ... I think he is a really strong player in his role. Doc Rivers likes to say 'We want star players in their role' and I think that is Jae Crowder to a 'T'. A guy who is going to be nasty, a guy who you do not want to face, but would love to have on your team."
"He fits the type of profile you see in a David West or a Draymond Green, an agitator, a real tough guy that I don't think a lot of people want anything to do with."
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While the Warriors already are looking ahead to free agency, Crowder is not. The Heat cut the Lakers' NBA Finals series lead to two-games-to-one with Game 4 set to take place Tuesday.
Once the NBA Finals are done and free agency begins, based on his tweets Sunday night, you can bet Draymond is going to suggest to general manager Bob Myers that the Warriors try to sign Crowder.