On Thursday afternoon, Jae Crowder, who was previously traded to the Brooklyn Nets from the Phoenix Suns the night before, moved once more to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a three-team trade. The Bucks send the Pacers and the Nets five second-round picks for the deal. In return, the Pacers receive forward Jordan Nwora, guard George Hill and center/forward Serge Ibaka from the Bucks.
The Suns traded Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren to the Nets in exchange for a package that included Crowder on Wednesday night. In making the trade, the Nets believed they had a good chance of sending Crowder to a team with championship ambitions and of acquiring another player before Thursday’s trade deadline. Crowder has not appeared in a game this season following his agreement with the Suns to stay out while they searched for potential trades for him. His contract ends this season and his reduced role, caused in part by the emergence of forward Cameron Johnson, is believed to have been a reason for his request to move.
Known for his superior defense, the 6-foot-6 wing has a storied history of playing postseason games. He made a major contribution to the Phoenix Suns in order for them to make it to the NBA Finals in 2021, while also having competed in over 100 playoff games and starting in 86 of them. His streak of nine consecutive years playing in the playoffs is the fifth-longest active streak in the league. This experience will surely be valuable for the Bucks as they make another championship run.