Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard Jamal Crawford. (Photo : Reuters)
As NBA teams start this year's training camps, speculations abound that the New York Knicks are interested in bringing back their former player, Los Angeles Clippers' shooting guard Jamal Crawford, before the February trade deadline.
The 35-year-old NBA journeyman, who played for the Knicks from 2004 to 2009, is one of the best bench scorers in the history of the league. He won Sixth Man of the Year awards in 2010 and 2014 playing for Atlanta and Los Angeles respectively.
Doc Rivers' move of signing a plethora of bench scorers during the summer, such as Josh Smith, Lance Stephenson, and Wesley Johnson, not to mention another clutch performer, Paul Pierce, was seen by Crawford as an indication that his role within the team would be diminished, as per Sports World Report.
It was also reported that the former Michigan standout was asking for a contract extension this summer as he enters his deal's final year, but Clippers management is not intending to give it, adding to the misery of the 15-year veteran.
The Knicks were said to be keen on re-acquiring Crawford during the summer, as per the New York Daily News, but Los Angeles is not yet ready to deal him this early.
It is expected that no trades will be pushed through during the training camp and preseason games period as both the Knicks and Clippers feel out their rosters first.
However, if Rivers' new recruits play well and contribute positively to the squad, then the 53-year-old NBA champion coach may think that he no longer has use for his ageing scorer and might welcome New York's trade offer before the deadline in February.
