Late Monday night, news broke that Danilo Gallinari was close to agreeing to a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, though talk soon turned to it being a three-team sign-and-trade maneuver including Denver, Los Angeles and Atlanta that would send Gallinari to the Clippers. While the trade has not been finalized, one of the players reportedly involved is Jamal Crawford, who would be sent to Atlanta.
The Hawks are about to embark on a rebuild, however, with Dwight Howard traded to Charlotte and Paul Millsap agreeing to join the Nuggets. Apparently, the veteran Crawford has no plans to play in Atlanta.
Jamal Crawford has no plans to play in Atlanta if/when this thing gets finalized, I'm told. A buyout or a trade is considered necessary.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 4, 2017
There is still a ways to go on multiple fronts here, as the trade has not been finalized, so obviously Crawford has not been bought out yet. But according to a report from Marc Spears, Crawford is already looking elsewhere, and would apparently like to keep playing at Staples Center. Just in purple and gold. Via ESPN:
Veteran guard Jamal Crawford's preference would be to join rookie Lonzo Ball in the backcourt with the Lakers if he can get bought out of his contract, a source told The Undefeated.
The Lakers have strong interest in signing Crawford as well, a source said, and have the money to offer a respectable contract. Crawford could possibly start at shooting guard for the Lakers and be a big help as a mentor and shot maker for the assist creating Ball
Look, this all makes perfect sense. Going to the Lakers would allow Crawford to stay in Los Angeles where he's played for the past five seasons, and joining Lonzo Ball's team means he could probably get a bunch of free Big Baller Brand gear. Sounds like a win-win to me.
