Jae Crowder is on the verge of making his return to the NBA.
The experienced forward is close to finalizing a deal to play for the Sacramento Kings this season, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. The specifics of the agreement have not been disclosed yet, but Crowder is expected to be ready to play in Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Having spent the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, the 34-year-old veteran, who entered the league as a second-round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012, is set to join his ninth team in the NBA. Crowder averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his time with Milwaukee last season.
Crowder was instrumental in guiding both the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns to consecutive NBA Finals appearances, although a championship has eluded him so far. After becoming a free agent in the offseason, he worked out with the Kings during the summer but did not secure a deal with any team at that time.
The Kings are currently grappling with significant injuries, having lost seven of their last 10 games leading up to the matchup in Minnesota. Forward Trey Lyles is sidelined for at least three weeks due to a right calf strain suffered in a recent game, while DeMar DeRozan is also out for the upcoming game with lower back muscle inflammation. Additionally, head coach Mike Brown was fined $35,000 for confronting an official in their previous game against the Brooklyn Nets.
Although Crowder’s exact role within the Kings organization is yet to be determined, he is expected to provide valuable frontcourt depth behind Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis in the near future. It remains to be seen if his addition will help lift the Kings out of their current slump.