Utah Jazz Alumni: Jae Crowder finds an ideal fit in South Beach
Three games after the trade deadline, former Utah Jazz fan favorite Jae Crowder has already looked right at home with the Miami Heat.
The Utah Jazz made major improvements during the off-season. Everyone knows it. They had to make some difficult moves though, cutting ties with multiple players that fans had fallen in love with, including Jae Crowder.
Crowder was involved in the move that brought Mike Conley from Memphis to Utah during the off-season. Including their energizer and tough enforcer in the deal seriously hurt, but it was an easy decision for the Jazz.
They knew that the group they had assembled had reached its ceiling. Coming off a disappointing first round series against Houston, the Jazz went into the off-season seeking additional shooting and creators.
Still, most Jazz fans loved Crowder and still keep tabs on him. He was playing well for a young Memphis team this season, but found himself on the move again, but it may have been to the perfect fit culture wise — Miami.
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The Heat made a major move at the trade deadline, beefing up their roster with the additions of Crowder and Andre Iguodala. An upper echelon team in the Eastern Conference got considerably better with these two additions.
The move saw Crowder, Iguodala and Solomon Hill land in Miami, with Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson going to Memphis. The Grizzlies would then flip Johnson to Minnesota in exchange for Gorgui Dieng.
Miami is known for their tough work ethic. They train hard, practice hard and play hard. “Heat Culture” is a very real thing and not all players can handle it. Crowder, though, should fit in perfectly with his new team.
Crowder is one of the toughest players in the league. He wears his heart on his sleeve and leaves it all on the court in every game, whether it’s the regular season or the playoffs. He’s not the player that Jimmy Butler is, but they both have that same mindset. It looks like a beautiful fit for both sides.
In his first two games with the Heat, Crowder has played extremely well. The 29 year old had 18 points and 11 rebounds in his debut against Portland on Sunday, and had 21 points and eight rebounds against Golden State on Monday.
On the season, Crowder is averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 45 games with Memphis and two games with Miami.
Crowder figures to serve as a major weapon for a Heat team looking to make it deep in the Eastern Conference. He’ll be big in the playoffs with his ability to space the floor and lock up the perimeter.
If you enjoy checking in on some of your favorite former Jazz players, be sure to check back with The J-Notes in the future. We’ve already caught up on the play of (Ekpe) Udoh, (Raul) Neto and (Marvin) Williams.
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Jae Crowder’s tenure with the Utah Jazz did not last as long as many fans had hoped for, but they can feel happy for him knowing that he’s in a winning situation in Miami, and playing for a team that fits his style perfectly.