Crowder on why he left Heat for Suns: ‘It was a business decision’
Jae Crowder’s time with the Heat was very productive, but it didn’t last long.
After the Memphis Grizzlies dealt Crowder to the Heat in February 2020, he started in each of the 21 games during Miami’s playoff run that ended just two wins away from a championship. But Crowder left the Heat in free agency to sign with the Phoenix Suns in free agency.
Why?
“No long-term contracts, and that’s what it came down to,” Crowder said before the Suns’ matchup against the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena on Tuesday night. “Obviously, Miami had a plan and they stuck to it. That’s all I can say about that.
“It was a business decision by both parties, and I had to make a decision. Didn’t think it was going to play out the way it played out, to be honest with you. But I’m ready to just close the chapter to that. It was a great one in my journey. I had a lot of fun.”
Crowder, 30, opted to sign a three-year contract worth $29 million with the Suns. Miami’s offer to Crowder included a salary for this season in the $14 million range, according to a league source, and the Heat was unwilling to offer more than one guaranteed season because of its desire to preserve future cap space.
“It was total business and I respect Pat [Riley], I respect their whole management for it,” said Crowder, who entered Tuesday averaging 10 points while shooting 38.1 percent on 6.3 three-point shot attempts per game to go with five rebounds and 2.1 assists in 38 games (23 starts) in his first season with the revitalized Suns. “They stood on it and I even gave them a whole night to think about it, but they stood on it. So I respect that and I respect that wholeheartedly. I’m just moving on. I’m happy where I’m at now. I think I made the best decision for myself and my career.”
Crowder excelled alongside Bam Adebayo
as the Heat’s starting small-ball four, averaging 12 points while shooting 34.2 percent on threes, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in the playoffs last season. The veteran shot 40 percent on 8.3 threepoint shot attempts per game in the first two rounds.
At 6-6 and 235 pounds, Crowder served as the Heat’s primary defender on Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James during the playoffs.
There was mutual interest between the Heat and Crowder entering free agency, but they had two different plans. Miami did not want to offer more than one season of guaranteed money and Crowder was looking for long-term security.
Crowder, who made Miami his offseason home four years ago, said he has kept in touch with his former Heat teammates despite signing elsewhere.
“I talk to guys all the time,” he said. “Obviously, me and Jimmy [Butler] still hold a close relationship and obviously me and Bam held a great relationship, as well, and Udonis [Haslem]. Those three guys I talk to the most. But I’ve talked to pretty much everybody on the team at some point since leaving. So the respect and love that we had for one another is there. It will always be there because we did do something special.”
After Crowder committed to the Suns, the Heat responded by signing guard Avery Bradley
and forward Moe Harkless in free agency. But Bradley and Harkless have yet to find consistent roles with the Heat.
Bradley has been limited to just 10 games because of injuries and a COVID-19 diagnosis. And Harkless has played in just 11 games, with injuries
and protocol-related issues keeping him out of 13 games and he has also fallen out of the Heat’s rotation after opening the season as a starter.
VACCINATED FANS SECTION
Miami will be the first team in the NBA to have sections of seats designated for vaccinated fans only.
The Heat will designate two sections at AmericanAirlines Arena for vaccinated fans starting next month, requiring fans to present proof of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-issued COVID-19 vaccination card to sit in the more tightly packed sections.
Sections 117 and 118 in the lower bowl will be designated for the vaccinated fans and pods of seats will be separated by just one chair. Vaccinated fans will enter through a separate gate and present proof of vaccination — showing they were vaccinated at least 14 days prior to the game — and a government-issued ID.
Pre-sale for the next slate of home games begin March 25. International certifications of vaccination will not be accepted. General seating is still available for nonvaccinated fans following previously established social-distancing protocols.
INJURY UPDATE
The Heat remained without Bradley (right calf strain), Goran Dragic (lower back spasms) and Haslem (health and safety protocols because of contact tracing) against the Suns.
Bradley has missed 23 games in a row because of his calf injury. Dragicmissed his second consecutive game because of his back issue and Haslem missed his third consecutive game because of protocols.
Forward KZ Okpalawas also unavailable Tuesday because of health and safety protocols. The fact that Okpala, who entered protocols Tuesday, was ruled out does not suggest that he tested positive for COVID-19, but only means the reason is related to the virus.
Players who are determined to be close contacts to a positive COVID-19 case are expected to usually be sidelined for seven days, and those who test positive for the virus likely have to miss at least about two weeks.
TRADE EXCEPTION EXPIRES
The Heat’s $7.5 million trade exception expired at 11:59 p.m. on Monday without being used. Many trade exceptions simply expire without being used because the number of rotation-caliber players who can be acquired thorough this mechanism is often very limited.