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Word out of Golden State is that Don Nelson isn’t all to happy with Jamal 
Crawford and has recently benched the ex-Knick in the hopes that he opts out at season’s end.
“…I’ve heard that when Nelson explained Crawford’s recent one-game benching, he spoke about getting the younger players more time, etc, etc.
But Nelson also told Crawford that he was doing the complete benching in order to help Crawford’s per-game averages, all the better for when (or if) Crawford opts-out, which Nelson very much wants him to do this summer.
That is a loud and clear NBA message, by the way. By even mentioning the opt-out (Crawford can erase the final two years and $19M+ on his deal), Nelson was indicating to Crawford that Nelson wanted him to opt-out.
Even more, Nelson was suggesting that Crawford HAD BETTER OPT-OUT or else Nelson would probably make sure that the situation next year isn’t to Crawford’s liking.
My understanding is that Crawford’s reaction was the same as any proud player’s reaction: Why in the world should I be pushed into a decision like that?
First off, I don’t know if Crawford is going to opt-out, but the shrinking economy tells you that he is unlikely to get better than $20M guaranteed to him on the open market this summer, especially when his coach is not-so-privately grousing about him.
Secondly, nobody has been more critical of Crawford’s defensive liabilities than me, but NBA value is NBA value and you don’t want to be blasting your player’s value as dismissively as that.
Thirdly, I heard Nelson not long ago say that Crawford was his best point guard and that the other candidates weren’t the right fit at the 1. What in the world is going on?..”
If Crawford were still here, we’d be begging for him to opt out too. I still make that Harrington deal 100 times out of a 100.
I cannot agree more! I would do that Jamaal Crawford for Al Harrington trade a billion times over. Jamaal Crawford is not a team player. Nor is he a winner. He is one of the oldest tenured NBA players who has yet to even make the playoffs. He has lost everywhere he went.
All I can remember about him was over-dribbling and taking a bad jumper 99% of the time. Meanwhile his best attribute was always slashing to the basket which he hasn’t done since his first 2 years in Chicago.
The guy is a me first player without the attitude. It’s really a shame there are so many players like him in the NBA. I agree that Crawford won’t opt out because no one in their right mind (unless Isiah Thomas gets another GM role somewhere) will sign Crawford for big money.
Too bad the Knicks can’t get his overweight buddy, Eddy Curry to opt out….
If I’m Crawford I wouldn’t opt out. period. Yes his game is all about taking as many wild shots as he can, and yes he’d rather take a shot from the mid court line than drive in for a fancy layup but boy can score and when he’s on there are few on the court that can score like he can. The contract was given to him by the biggest waste of a president, our beloved and suicidal Isiah Thomas. Someone needs to tell me who would opt out of a contract that garantees 20 million in this economic time? Plus Nellie is the most overrated coach all time. He thinks it’s all about him and not the actual players who play the game. How many championships has he won? Larry Brown he is not. He calls Jamal the best at the position and now benches him? Monta wants out and Jackson is just buying his time.. What GS needs to do is buy Nellie out.
Jamal would never opt-out if he was still here, since he was so happy in NY
well would’ve been an all-star if he were here. averages of about 22-23 and 5, 40 % from 3, 44-45% from the field.
I tend to think like a player when it comes to management/player conflicts. Crawford should tell Nellie to go F himself with a baseball bat.
The NBA is a business (isn’t that what they say, when a team has no more use for a player?) and Crawford gets screwed in a business sense if he opts out.
I like Craw and it sucks that he if he doesn’t opt out, he’ll get screwed as far as playing team/career wise, but if I’m a player I ain’t sacrificing my money, unless there’s a guarantee I can contribute to a winning team.
It should read “Don Nelson isn’t all too happy,” not “to happy.”
Go Knicks!