LA Lakers Rumors link the team to another guard who would like to play with #Lonzo Ball. The player showing interest in the Lakers is former Sixth Man of the Year #Jamal Crawford, who is coming off several seasons with the LA Clippers. Though he is now with the Atlanta Hawks, Crawford appears to be using back-channels (sources) to express an interest in returning to Los Angeles for the 2017-18 NBA season and mentoring rookie Lonzo Ball.
Earlier on July 4, the LA Clippers traded Jamal Crawford to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal. The latest NBA rumors indicate that the Hawks may simply buy out Crawford's contract in order to clear more salary cap space.
It would also be a continued effort to build for the future, as the Hawks are entering a transition phase as a franchise. After trading Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague and then losing Paul Millsap to free agency, the Hawks are about to start rebuilding.
How much would it cost the LA Lakers to sign Jamal Crawford?
As Jamal Crawford could soon receive a buyout from the Atlanta Hawks, these LA Lakers rumors indicate that he could become very affordable in free agency. His current deal will pay Crawford about $14.3 million next season and then $14.5 million the following year. The Hawks could opt out of that second season at a price of just $3 million, though, underscoring how it is a non-guaranteed year for Crawford.
If the Hawks do offer Jamal Crawford a buyout and he takes it, then he would immediately become a free agent who could sign with any other NBA franchise. Since he will be receiving a lump-sum payment from the Hawks, Crawford could then sign with the LA Lakers at the veterans' minimum. That would be roughly a $2.3 million contract for the 2017-18 NBA season and very affordable for the Lakers.
Could Crawford help the Lakers get back to the NBA Playoffs?
While Crawford's best days in the NBA are probably behind him, he could certainly provide a valuable veteran presence off the bench. Crawford could also serve as a mentor to rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, who comes to the NBA after playing only one season at UCLA. That could be very valuable to a franchise that wants Ball to learn how to play the game the right way and possibly needs someone who can play heavy minutes off the bench next year.
The Lakers have already had a very busy offseason, trading D'Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Brook Lopez and the rights to Kyle Kuzma, the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The team then took Lonzo Ball with its own first-round draft pick and adds him to a roster that already includes Brandon Ingram, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle. Now the latest LA Lakers rumors indicate that Jamal Crawford wants to join the mix.
