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11/22/2024 08:18:32 am

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NBA News & Rumors: Jamal Crawford Doesn't Expect to be Back with Clippers, Cavs and Heat Possible Destinations

Jamal Crawford

(Photo : Getty Images/Ronald Martinez)

Jamal Crawford is certain he will soon be traded by the Los Angeles Clippers after the team signed Josh Smith, according to an LA Times report. 

The Clippers' roster is heavy on shooting guards with J.J. Redick and Lance Stephenson, and Crawford's partially guaranteed contract of $5.7 million could definitely be used as trade bait. 

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The addition of Josh Smith makes it even more crowded for thin Clippers roster, with Wesley Johnson, Paul Pierce and Cole Aldrich also signed.

Coach Doc Rivers has been saying that the team wants to keep Crawford for being able to do something that only a few people can.

He even dismissed trade rumors about the 35-year-old Crawford as "crazy."

Observers also noted that while Crawford has played for the Clippers for three years, he was not among those who went to DeAndre Jordan's home in Houston to persuade the latter to remain with the team. 

But the Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly in discussions for a trade that would send Brendan Haywood to the Clippers for Crawford.

The Cavaliers are eager to move Brendan Haywood before his $10 million salary in 2015 becomes guaranteed in August.

The Clippers could then release Haywood and avoid absorbing the impact  his salary could bring to the team's cap. 

In turn, the Cavaliers, whose contract negotiations for both JR Smith and Matthew Dellavedova have not been finalized, will be acquiring a quality shooting guard that comes off the bench.

The Miami Heat is also looking into  a Jamal Crawford trade as the team is reportedly shopping  Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and Shabazz Napier.

According ESPN, Miami has been looking to off load salary that they are paying the said players.

Amid the confusion, Crawford twitted that he hoped he was a free agent to enable him to control which team he ends up with.

Crawford could have been a free agent had the Clippers decided to waive him between season's end and the start of the free agency period as his contract wasn't fully guaranteed before July 1. It would have cost the Clippers only $1.5 million as he hit the open market. 

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