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Best options for Brooklyn Nets in a Blazers trade

By Josh Rudy

Feb 19, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets new general manager Sean Marks speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets new general manager Sean Marks speaks to the media during a press conference before a game against the New York Knicks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) and center Jusuf Nurkic (27) high five during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) and center Jusuf Nurkic (27) high five during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

4) Allen Crabbe

Contract: $18.5 million (2017-18); $19.3 million (2018-19); $18.5 million (2019-20). Last season is a player option.

2016-17 Statistics:  79 GP (7 starts); 28.5 Minutes/Game; 10.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG; 1.2 APG

Last July, the Nets signed Crabbe to a 4 year/$75 million offer sheet. As we know, Portland decided to match. The signing came as a bit of a surprise, and judging upon last season, it looks like the Nets dodged a bullet.

Sean Marks and the rest of the Nets front office have been very strategic in the rebuild of the organization. They have given fans little reason to not trust their decisions. However, they were ready to hand a starting spot to Allen Crabbe. Last season, he showed major deficiencies in his game. In particular, Crabbe failed to make an impact as a true playmaker while struggling in important areas such as dribbling, passing and defensive instincts.

He recorded a total of 92 assists on the season. In comparison, Brook Lopez tallied 176, while Trevor Booker logged 138. In the Kenny Atkinson offense, he prefers players with multiple skill sets. While Crabbe can shoot the lights out (44% from three last season), are the Nets going to be willing to take on approximately $22 million per year for an arguably one-dimensional player?

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Crabbe is signed until the 2019-20 season. However, his contract carries a burden. It possesses a 15% trade bonus, which pushes his annual salary from approximately $19 million per season to $22 million. Portland would be responsible for paying Crabbe the bonus, but the Nets would be the team taking the cap hit. Check out the full details of the ‘trade kicker’ here.

There is no doubt that Allen Crabbe is a talented player. He belongs in the league and has proven himself a true threat on many occasions. Adding Crabbe to the roster would surely improve the offense from a shooting standpoint, but the price tag that comes with him is entirely too large.

At 25 years old, there is still room for growth, but players possessing equal or more capabilities can be found or acquired at a much smaller price (ex: Jordan Clarkson). If the Nets want to negotiate with Portland, they should steer clear of the California swingman.