Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Mavericks will more than likely look like a totally different team next season than the one that missed the playoffs this year for the first time in since the 1999-2000 season. With Dallas having so many pending free agents and a lot of cap space, they should consider giving forward Jae Crowder a larger role next season.
Crowder wasn’t asked to do much as a rookie this past season when Dallas traded for him after he was drafted the second round last summer, playing just 17 minutes in 78 games, including 16 starts.With such a low amount of playing time, Crowder was only able to contribute five points, 2.4 rebounds, but the 6’6″, 240-pound versatile player out of Marquette has a skill set that the Mavericks and head coach Rick Carlisle can utilize in the immediate future.
Despite being undersized for the power forward position, Crowder makes up for his lack of height with a nice package of perimeter offensive skills and extremely long arms. Crowder can shoot from the outside like a wing player, and can defend post players to a certain extent with his 6’8.75″ wingspan.
Due to his ability to play on the perimeter and strength Crowder isn’t the typical hybrid forward, giving Carlisle the option of playing him at multiple positions, and in today’s NBA having that flexibility will keep you in the league for quite some time.
Crowder should have a great opportunity to improve on his averages from his rookie season with multiple rotation spots opening up this summer. If Crowder can come into camp in shape and ready to step in and contribute, he could be a valuable asset to the Mavericks roster.
