Jae Crowder has been one of the most efficient shooters in the league

[LarBrd33]

I see a lot of trade threads where Jae Crowder is included almost as a throw-in along with our extremely valuable Brooklyn 1st.   I think in the shadow of Horford's addition, Bradley's jump to borderline all-star, and Thomas stretch of microsupernova offensive potency, we have a tendency to overlook just how outstanding Crowder has been on the offensive end.  Jae has made an incredible leap in shooting efficiency this season.  Whether it's the addition of Horford or the combined jump in efficiency for his surrounding teammates (both Thomas and Bradley are having career highs in efficiency), it's hard to imagine a player making more of his attempts in the 4th scoring option role. 

For the season he's averaging 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals with .492%/.428/.899 shooting.   He's on the verge of the elusive 50/40/90 club. 

He's 6th in the league in three point percentage.  For players that average at least 10ppg and make at least 2 three pointers per game, Jae is 3rd in the league in three point percentage behind Otto Porter Jr and JJ Reddick. 

He's 7th in the league in Effective Field goal percentage and 6th in the league in True Shooting percentage.  He's ahead of Steph Curry in both categories. 

Now, of course a lot of it has to do with his role as the 4th option and the attention our other players get.  But it's interesting to note that in the past 8 games with Bradley out, Jae has stepped up and he's actually been even more efficient than normal:  18.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1 steal with 55% shooting, 46% from three and 96% from the line.

There's something to be said about his ability to create shots compared to a guy like Jimmy Butler.  Butler's averaging 24.4 points with 45%/35%/87% shooting.  Presumably Butler's scoring would go down and his shooting percentages would go up playing in Boston, but there's no guarantee the career 45%/33%/83% shooter would put up the 49%/43%/90% percentages Jae is right now.   On the flip side, it's fair to question how much of a hit in efficiency Jae would take playing on Chicago?  How many additional points per game would he put up in Butler's role in Chicago with his role heightened from 4th option to 1st/2nd?  Undoubtedly he'd be less efficient, but would he see his shooting percentages drop significantly further than the 45%/35%/87% Butler puts up?  Could Jae average over 20ppg? 

[Big333223]

Jae has been great. He's turned himself into the perfect 3-and-D wing who's also capable of sliding to the 4. On the contract he has, he might be the biggest steal in the league not named Isaiah.

But comparing him to Butler doesn't make sense. Butler is an all star who can create for himself and others. Jae is a role player who can't really handle the ball outside of line-drives at the rim (at which he's gotten very good) and the 2.3 apg he's averaging this season is the best of his career.

[LarBrd33]

Jae has been great. He's turned himself into the perfect 3-and-D wing who's also capable of sliding to the 4. On the contract he has, he might be the biggest steal in the league not named Isaiah.

But comparing him to Butler doesn't make sense. Butler is an all star who can create for himself and others. Jae is a role player who can't really handle the ball outside of line-drives at the rim (at which he's gotten very good) and the 2.3 apg he's averaging this season is the best of his career.

Part of the reason Jae and Avery are shooting the percentages they are is because Horford is out there and Thomas is commanding so much attention.  But it's also a chicken/egg thing.   Thomas has been basically unstoppable, because you have two of the best shooters in the league this season stretching the floor for him in Avery and Jae.  It's a symbiotic relationship that benefits all involved.   I agree Butler is better at creating, but swapping out Jae for Butler (and losing a pick that has a chance to be a significantly better player than Butler), would alter that dynamic considerably.   Now instead of having Thomas initiate offense with great supporting talent around him, you'd have two guys who will generate offense.   That takes the ball out of Thomas hands to give it to a guy who might not be as efficient as Thomas has been (46% from FG and 38% from three).  And would they actually have an easier time creating offense without both Avery and Jae (both shooting above 40% from three this season) spreading the floor?  I'm not so sure.   Instead of having Avery and Jae spreading the floor, Butler would have Avery and Thomas.  Thomas is great, but can he spread the floor in the same way Jae does?  Not sure.    And with the ball in Thomas' hands instead of having Avery and Jae spreading the floor, Thomas will now have Avery and Butler.   That sounds great on paper, but can Butler (33% career three point shooter) really spread the floor in the same way Jae has?  Yeah, Butler will command more attention, but there's no guarantee he can be as efficient as Jae has been. 

And I still think it's fair to question if Jae could average over 20ppg if he swapped places with Butler.   I think he probably could with enough shot attempts.  He'd be less efficient... but how much?

[vjcsmoke]

If we were to trade for Butler... I'd rather package AB than Crowder.
This is based on the fact that Crowder can defend the 4, and the emergence of Jaylen Brown as a 2.

Now these are just snap impressions.
Jaylen needs to continue to play well and Crowder needs to sustain his excellence.

But if this continues, that could open the door for a Jimmy Butler to Boston trade package involving a very talented piece in AB, but a piece whom we can afford to lose.

I also believe Jimmy and Jaylen would have a lot of chemistry together because they are already offseason workout partners and appear to be friends.

Imagine a 5 of: IT, Jaylen Brown, Jimmy Butler, Jae Crawford, Al Horford.  That would be our own version of the lineup of death!

[hodgy03038]

Imagine a 5 of: IT, Jaylen Brown, Jimmy Butler, Jae Crawford, Al Horford.  That would be our own version of the lineup of death!

Only problem is who rebounds?

[chilidawg]

Didn't I post this exact same thread a couple of weeks ago?  Stop stealing my material, dude, I don't have that much to work with.

Crowder's shooting has been remarkable and over looked, imo.  He's the third most efficient shooter in the league if you don't include guys like Jordan who don't shoot from further than 2 feet.

[ThePaintedArea]

I see a lot of trade threads where Jae Crowder is included almost as a throw-in along with our extremely valuable Brooklyn 1st.   

Thank you.

There's something to be said about his ability to create shots compared to a guy like Jimmy Butler. 

Yes.  They have diametrically opposite games, with Butler the shot-creator extraordinaire and Crowder the consummate complementary player. Two stats illustrate this beautifully: Crowder's 3-pt assist rate is .559 while Butler's is .214; Crowder's free throw rate is .212 while Butler's is .566 - almost perfectly inverted.

In other words, a huge part of Crowder's game is spotting up while someone else creates a shot for him, while Butler gets the ball in order to create off the dribble, and if he shoots a three he creates the shot for himself.

 

How many additional points per game would he put up in Butler's role in Chicago with his role heightened from 4th option to 1st/2nd? 

Implausible. So unlikely that he'd become a first or even second option. The leopard changing his spots? In any case, he's extraordinarily valuable in the role he does play; Boston is grooming Jaylen Brown to play the Jimmy Butler role, and Jae fits right in with that. Trading Jae for Jimmy makes no sense.

[Clench123]

Yea, grossly underrated. Those numbers speaks volume.

[TheTruthFot18]

Yea, grossly underrated. Those numbers speaks volume.

He basically shut out the game tonight with the 4 FT's in the clutch plus the rebound on the Bucks final shot.

[CelticGuardian]

Guy has been a much needed surprise. Who knows where would we be if Mavs had no idea what they had in their hands.