Watch CBS News

Robb: Celtics Should Bring Back Jae Crowder For Next Stage Of Rebuild

BOSTON (CBS)  -- The 2014-15 Boston Celtics were the ideal team for a young player looking for an opportunity. Underutilized talent Tyler Zeller, Jonas Jerebko, and Luigi Datome had breakout seasons in green after being granted big minutes, but no Boston player did more to improve his free agent stock this year than small forward Jae Crowder.

The midseason addition from the Dallas Mavericks arrived in Boston in December with teammates Brandan Wright and Jameer Nelson in exchange for Rajon Rondo and Dwight Powell. Nelson and Wright were sent packing before the trade deadline, but Crowder proved to be a valuable chip as a role player in the midst of Boston's second-half turnaround.

Crowder's numbers don't jump off the page at you. He averaged a pedestrian 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 57 contests with Boston, but his impact was felt all over the floor. He played aggressively within Brad Stevens' pace and space offense, and he shined defensively, where his grittiness and savvy stood out. Crowder gave Stevens plenty of options on that end with his ability to guard both forward positions, and that flexibility continued into the postseason while facing a challenging frontcourt led by LeBron James.

"I think Jae was particularly good in the playoffs," Ainge said at his end-of-season press conference. "He played well. He played with great energy and provided a lot of spark. He clearly was our best defender on LeBron [James] in the series."

Crowder is positioned well to cash in on his stellar play since he will enter the offseason as a restricted free agent after Ainge announced the team will extend him a qualifying offer. That label will give the Celtics control over his rights, but the 24-year-old will have a chance to seek out his value on the open market. However, Crowder made clear to Boston Herald on Sunday that he is eager to build on his upward trajectory in Beantown.

"I'm sure I'll be talking to Danny soon," Crowder told The Herald. "As I've told you guys, the second half of the season was something special to be a part of. I saw it as something that was going in the right direction for me."

Later he added, "The feeling of me coming back to Boston is mutual, from what I can tell. I just hope we can get something done. But I do get a good feeling from the team."

The good news for the Celtics is that while Crowder will be worthy of a significant raise, his shooting numbers from the perimeter (29 percent from three-point range in Boston) will cap his salary at a reasonable level. Unlike a breakout wing such as DeMarre Carroll with the Atlanta Hawks who showed he could shoot and defend at elite levels, Crowder doesn't have a strong track record yet.

Knowing that reality, Ainge should be able to bring Crowder back without breaking the bank, and that's the best-case scenario for this team moving forward as Ainge attempts to build a new identity around a reshaped core. Crowder has displayed the outspoken leadership off the floor this group needs to have in place while the front office attempts to bring in some bigger pieces, and after a tumultuous past two seasons, some continuity will be best for all parties involved.

"I think Jae is a player that was improving with the opportunity that he got to play for us," Ainge said in April. "And I think he's got a lot of upside still. I think he can still get better over the next few years. But we're excited about Jae, and we're excited about what he brings to our team, and his versatility, and his defensive ability to play a few different positions. We think he has a very bright future."

That future belongs in Boston.

Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.