Jamal Crawford Headed to Cleveland Cavaliers? News & Rumors Here!

One of the forgotten names in the Los Angeles Clippers lineup right now is Jamal Crawford.

Crawford was someone who usually came off the bench but seeing the overload of talent that the Clips have right now, Crawford could find himself the odd man out. With Lance Stephenson, Paul Pierce and Pablo Prigoni alternating off the bench, Crawford may find it hard to get the ample playing time to show off his wares.

Other than that, there is the matter of salary. Seeing that Crawford could end up with diminished to none minutes, would the Clippers be fine carrying his $5,675,000 salary throughout the 2015-16 NBA season?

Crawford is entering the last year of his $21,350,000 four-year deal with the Clippers but seeing how the Clips would welcome some savings, possibly trading Crawford could give them a big sigh or relief.

However, the question is where?

For those following the NBA rumor mill, there are some speculations on how Crawford could fit in with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs are trying to make sure that they fill up their bench with players who can pick up the slack when the starters need a breather and Crawford could be a good add.

The 6-foot-5 guard has been known to have a good touch from rainbow territory and his expertise could really come in handy for head coach David Blatt.

Not only that, it could be relieve LeBron James some of the problems he currently has as far as scoring is concerned, something evident in the last NBA Finals where the King had to carry brunt of the scoring.

So, can the Cavs afford to squeeze in Crawford in the mix?

Though they have rid themselves of a couple of players who hold some million dollar contracts (Brendan Haywood and Mike Miller), it remains to be seen if the Cavs will have enough once they settle the score with other players.

The players in mention are of course Tristan Thompson and possibly J.R. Smith. Of the two, Thompson is seen as the sure player to be re-signed. The only question now is what Thompson would sign – a one year deal or a multi-year contract.

On the other hand, J.R. Smith’s case is different. After opting out, it makes no sense for Smith to seek a lower payday. A remote exception could see Smith agreeing to a lower pay but this may only happen if no team picks him up. And that could happen perhaps when the next NBA season’s opening draws near.

Would it be safe to say that a possible Crawford deal materializes after the Cavs sign Thompson?

The Cavs could end up signing Crawford first or signing him and Smith at the same time. But a lot would hinge on the contract price. If Dan Gilbert can find a way to fit in the two players and avoid the luxury taxes then don’t be surprised.

If it comes down to a choice between Smith and Crawford, this should prove to be interesting. Will it be familiarity over money or the other way around?