August 27, 2010, 9:07 PM ET Sources: Jamal Crawford asks for trade By Chris Broussard ESPN The Magazine Frustrated the Atlanta Hawks have not offered him a contract extension, Jamal Crawford will ask the club to trade him, according sources with knowledge of the situation. Crawford, who is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $10 million this season, approached the Hawks the first week of July about an extension. Hawks general manager Rick Sund has not made Crawford an offer, a source with the organization told ESPN. Crawford The sides are scheduled to meet next week and if the Hawks do not make Crawford an offer he considers reasonable, he will ask to be traded, according to sources. Crawford is looking for a three- or four-year extension worth about the same annual amount he will make this season. Crawford, the NBA's reigning Sixth Man of the Year, has already hinted he is ready to go elsewhere. A few weeks ago, he told the Hawks that if they don't want to extend his contract, they should trade him, sources said. Though the Hawks offered Joe Johnson an extension last year, Sund does not typically give extensions, preferring instead to let players complete their contracts before committing the club to more money. Crawford is expecting Sund to take that approach in their meeting next week. But with a potential lockout looming and the next Collective Bargaining Agreement expected to be less favorable to the players, the 30-year-old Crawford, who averaged 18 points last season, wants security. Crawford is the latest in a growing chorus of top players this summer to express a desire to be traded. In July, Chris Paul was looking to leave New Orleans, and more recently, Carmelo Anthony has reportedly told the Denver Nuggets that he wants out. Some of Crawford's frustration, according to sources, is that the Hawks gave all-star Joe Johnson a six-year, $119 million contract, but have yet to offer him anything. While sources say Crawford is happy for Johnson, Crawford expects to be rewarded for his strong play during the regular season and playoffs. Though Johnson led the team in scoring during the regular season, he struggled during the Hawks' second-round sweep at the hands of the Orlando Magic. While Johnson averaged 12 points a game against the Magic, Crawford led the team with a 17-point average. Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5504907
I've always been a fan. The guy has an incredible skill set. When he's shooting well, he's unstoppable. If his salary weren't so high, I wouldn't mind having him as a 6th man on our squad. If you've ever watched Jamal courtside, you know what I'm "talking" about. His shooting capabilities and ball handling are amazing. Yes, he jacks up shots from time to time, but he's really one of the main reasons the Hawks have been relevant for the last year or two. This is not a Moreygeterrrdoonne thing, but if the price was right, I'm down.
These guys are getting out of hand demanding trades all the time. If that's going to be the case from here on out, what good does it do anyone to have contracts in the NBA anymore? As far as I'm concerned this just gives fuel to the owners when they negotiate the new CBA. Bosh and James did the right thing, they never demanded trades and played out their contracts. Even though Wade was also prepared to leave if things would have come to that, he also didn't demand a trade as far as I can recall, and that's with an appalling team last year. Good for class guys like that, and a thumb down to Crawford for not manning up. He could just play well again, which would net him another contract; that's how these things work folks.
Crawford's a really good player. Everytime I watched him play on TV, he seemed very fluid/confident in his shots, a large percentage of his shots went in, and he always got his numbers.
There should be a rule in place. First rule? You have to be a starter to demand a trade or get laughed at continuously for 24 hours straight. Face to face, with them playing disney tunes in your ears, and flashing lights in a padded cell.
Damn I didn't know he's owed that much for his last year. I would stay pat if I were the Hawks. He should be thankful for even having such a bloated contract. He'll be 31 by the time he's due for another contract, which will probably get him something not too far off a vet min, so I do see where he's coming from. But from a fan's standpoint, he's made more than he's worth anyways. Just don't blow it like Quitten. Goodbye the black Joe Johnson?
Might be part of NBA culture in general, but character is something that smart teams take into consideration. In '09, Ginobili was looking for an extension and the Spurs were hesitant to offer one. But he wasn't running his mouth demanding a trade. In the interview I saw, he was respectful and acted like a grownup. Eventually got the extension too. Likewise, can you imagine Chuck Hayes publicly demanding a trade? What about Yao or Shane or Martin or Scola or Lee or Miller or...
Probably easy to say until it happens to your team. I expect class and maturity out of athletes; demanding a trade with little justification is neither of those. No one has to get used to it.
