Boston Celtics Rumors: Jae Crowder is Holding Up a Jimmy Butler Trade

With the NBA trade deadline winding down, the Boston Celtics appear to be increasing their push to obtain Jimmy Butler.

Speaking on NBA TV, reporter David Aldridge shared his belief that the Boston Celtics are seriously engaged with the Chicago Bulls in talks on a Jimmy Butler trade. According to Aldridge, the talks hit a snag when it came to Celtics forward Jae Crowder:

"“I think it really comes down to Crowder. In terms of real tangible players, I think Danny [Ainge] would like to go into the playoffs with Smart, Bradley, Crowder, defensively along with Butler, Horford, Thomas offensively. I think [Ainge] feels that’s they only way they’ll compete or be able to compete with a team like Cleveland.”"

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Aldridge went on to discuss how the Bulls would prefer to get something real back for their best player, rather than some of the myriad draft picks that the Celtics own and some fringe players who they will not keep on the roster.

Celtics fans know that a trade needs to be made if the team wants any chance to compete with the Cavaliers. They have also grown attached to the Brooklyn Nets draft pick, which is more likely than not going to be a top four pick in an extremely deep draft. Fans have also grown attached to Crowder, who is an intense emotional center of the team as it is currently comprised.

Butler is clearly a better player than Crowder and that is where the issue comes to a head. The Celtics would be giving up a tough defensive workhorse in Crowder, who is averaging 13.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 33% from three-point range. Butler is a three time All-Star who is only a year older than Crowder and who is scoring 24.5 points per game to go along with 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Butler is also having the best three-point shooting year of his career at 40.5%.

Ainge does not have the same attachment that fans have, or at least not the same type of attachment. He will not let sentimentality get in the way of a good deal that will improve the team, no matter how much fans love the player.

If Crowder is the sticking point, Ainge should pull the trigger. He may still be hesitant to give up the 2017 Brooklyn pick, and rightfully so, but he also holds the rights to Brooklyn’s first round pick in 2018 to put on the table for Chicago. He also has Jaylen Brown waiting in the wings and showing genuine promise. It is entirely possible that Chicago is asking for Brown as well, which makes the hesitancy to move Crowder make a little more sense.

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The Bulls have been insistent that they are not planning to trade Butler, so Aldridge’s information may not even be entirely correct. The teams have until 3 PM EST on Thursday to get a deal together before the Trade Deadline passes, though it sounds unlikely based on this report.

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