The Heat, Cavaliers and Knicks have all been rumored to be interested in Clippers guard Jamal Crawford. So, how would Miami go about acquiring him?
Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun Sentinel had an idea while making an appearance on Hochman, Crowder and Krantz at Miami CBS Local Radio:
I think you need one more offensive component for this team. The salary of Josh McRoberts matches and you get rid of two more years on his deal so the question is how much do you like or how much do you want to go forward with Josh McRoberts? The salary of Birdman matches and his expires after this year. The question is can you risk not having another shot blocker/defender for the games that Hassan Whiteside misses? And there’s some talk that the Clippers might be interested in Mario Chalmers as part of that deal just to give them depth at point guard.
I think the Heat with one of their big men — especially Birdman or McRoberts — could move in and I think it would be win-win for both teams.
Crawford could offer some instant offense off the bench for the Heat, who got a little bit of that when they signed Gerald Green to a minimum deal this summer. That said, the Heat may not have to give up all that much if they wanted to obtain Crawford. That's not because the two-time Sixth Man of the Year can't play anymore, but because the market for him is drying like a desert.
The Cavs aren't reportedly out on Crawford, but their signing of J.R. Smith from Thursday does imply they don't have a need for him anymore, considering how similar those two players can be when both are going well. So, that would narrow the Clippers' options down to Miami and New York. And the Knicks really don't have very much to give. All the Heat would have to do is top an offer that included Lance Thomas or Lou Amundson (unless, of course, the already over-the-tax Clips were interested in taking on more salary with Jose Calderon).
Both Andersen and McRoberts could be big helps for an L.A. team that could certainly use an extra big man, even after signing Josh Smith and Cole Aldrich along with re-signing DeAndre Jordan this offseason. McRoberts is a versatile 4 who missed loads of time last year. Andersen, meanwhile, is another rim-protecting, defensive-minded big who the Clips could add to the mix.
(h/t CBS Miami Local Radio)
