Veteran forward Jae Crowder requested to not report to Phoenix Suns training camp, and the team agreed as it continues trying to find a trade for him, sources told ESPN.
Crowder, 32, is headed into the final season of his contract paying him $10.1 million but was facing a diminished role as the Suns are expected to increase playing time for forward Cameron Johnson. That is one of several factors that might have led to Crowder’s request.
The Suns announced on Sunday that Crowder would be away from the team. In a tweet, Crowder wrote “ONE MUST SEEK WORK WHERE HE IS WANTED.. WHERE HE IS NEEDED.!”
ONE MUST SEEK WORK WHERE HE IS WANTED.. WHERE HE IS NEEDED.! I AM THANKFUL FOR WHAT THESE PAST 2 YRS HAVE TAUGHT ME.! NOW I MUST TAKE ON ANOTHER CHALLENGE WITH CONTINUED HARDWORK & DEDICATION.! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CLOSED THE DOOR ON ME…. THANK YOU! 99 BACK SOON.! 🥷🏾🤫🤐
— JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) September 25, 2022
Team owner Robert Sarver announced he was selling the franchise last week after an NBA investigation confirmed reports of racially insensitive and misogynistic comments during his tenure.
Crowder’s scoring and shooting numbers dipped slightly last season after he was a key member of the Suns’ Finals team in 2021. The defensive specialist averaged 9.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 67 games last season.
The Suns have been in trade talks surrounding Crowder during the summer but haven’t been able to find a deal. They had been in talks with the Utah Jazz over Bojan Bogdanovic before he was traded to the Detroit Pistons last week.