Denver Nuggets: 5 way too early mid-season buyout candidates

BONUS Denver Nuggets Buyout Candidate: Jamaal Crawford, G, Unsigned

I know I know, Jamal Crawford is not signed and hasn’t been since the NBA bubble back in August 2020. But how can that be? The guy can definitely still hoop. Listen to any legends talk about blacktop games and bucket-getters and they’ll mention Jamal Crawford almost every time.

In his last chance in the NBA in Orlando in 2020, he played just six minutes for the Brooklyn Nets, going 2-4 for five points to go with three dimes. Six minutes, and he created 12 points, yet no one thought he could still play? He may be 41, but there is still some magic in J-Crossover’s legs, don’t doubt it.

Along with Lou Williams, he is one of two players to have won the Sixth Man of the Year award thrice, most recently in 2016. In his last full season in 2018-2019, he averaged just 7.9 points in 18.9 minutes per game over 64 games, which were both career lows by a wide margin with the exception of his rookie year.

However, in the last game Crawford played in the NBA before that cup of coffee with the Nets, a 39-year-old Crawford put up 51 points. Yes, 51 points. At 39 years old. He went 18-for-30 from the field, 7-for-13 from deep, and 8-for-9 from the free throw line while adding five dimes, five rebounds, a steal, and a block.

Despite Crawford’s best efforts, the Mavs did still win Dirk Nowitzki’s final home game on that night. The Seattle native made an imprint though, carrying the Suns back from down 31 to within four in the final minutes of the game thanks in large part to his 26 points and two assists in the fourth quarter.

So how the heck has he not been given a real shot since then??

He’s been in the league for 19 years, played 74 playoff games, loves coming off the bench and has no ego, and can clearly still play at the highest level if given the chance to do so. Why not give that to him this year in Denver?