Sixers should avoid Jamal Crawford in free agency

By Christopher Kline | May 28, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Jamal Crawford #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets during the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Philadelphia 76ers need to stay away from Jamal Crawford once free agency hits.

After years of tanking, the Philadelphia 76ers finally enter the offseason as contenders. They will be major players for likes of LeBron James and Paul George in free agency, while a Kawhi Leonard trade is still possible. With Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid at the helm, they’re well equipped to compete with Boston atop the Eastern Conference.

With that said, the Sixers will also needed to improve their supporting cast. Marco Belinelli and T.J. McConnell are great, but you can’t successfully build a bench around a subpar defender and a heavily-limited playmaker. Markelle Fultz should look better in year two, but he’s far from a sure thing.

Like last season, the Sixers will be on the lookout for veterans that are willing to help them win games. Now that they’re legitimate contenders, those veterans should come at lower prices — unlike J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson in 2017.

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One veteran that might be on the Sixers’ radar is Jamal Crawford, the three-time Sixth Man of the Year whose electric handles and iso scoring have made him a fan favorite in years past. Some, like our friends over at Section 215, think he would fit the Sixers’ bench perfectly.

Here’s why Bryan Colangelo should stay away.

In general, Crawford — for the last few seasons, at least — has been a net negative for his teams. Last year in Minnesota, the Wolves were 13 points worse with him on the floor. Both their offense and their defensive performed significantly better whenever Crawford sat.

There are certainly some beneficial traits that Crawford would bring to the Sixers’ offense. They lack players who can create off the bounce at all three levels, something Crawford does with regularity. Having a high-octane bench scorer who can sub in and get buckets is normally a positive.

The only issue is that Crawford doesn’t do much outside of scoring the basketball. He’s a below-average playmaker who doesn’t create much for others. Brett Brown’s offense is rooted in passing and spacing, and Crawford’s game doesn’t fit that mold.

He’s also a virtual zero on the defensive end. The Sixers need to add more wings who are capable of guarding multiple positions at a high level, as evidenced by Redick and Belinelli struggling in the conference semis. Crawford is worse than Redick and on the same playing field as Belinelli, which isn’t great.

The Sixers can surround Crawford with capable defenders, but there’s no reason to believe he adds any positive value to the rotation. There’s a difference between adding ball handlers and adding iso-heavy scorers, and the Sixers need to establish that heading into free agency.

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You could argue that playing Crawford in brief spurts is beneficial, but he’s not necessarily comfortable (or happy) in that role. It’s best for the Sixers to go a different direction and search for perimeter help elsewhere.