NBA Rumors: Suns Turned Down This Heat Offer For Crowder

We've known for some time that the Phoenix Suns' estranged forward Jae Crowder has wanted to return to South Beach where he played a key role in their trip to the NBA Finals in 2020. And it appears that the Miami Heat have attempted to trade for him this fall, but it was swatted away by the Suns. 

According to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, an Eastern Conference executive says the Heat offered Duncan Robinson in return for Crowder. Phoenix said 'no thanks.'

They’ve tried to see what’s there for Duncan Robinson but there really is not much of a market unless you get a team willing to play him for a year and try to flip his contract next summer. They tried with Phoenix for Jae Crowder, but Phoenix did not want Robinson.

Apparently, Robinson and his 4 years remaining on a contract that pays him an average of $18M per season is not exactly stirring up much interest around the league. 

The 6'7" wing saw his three-point percentage drop five points last season to 37%, while his points-per-game dipped to 10.9 from the 13+ range of the previous two seasons. This year, he's almost an afterthought in Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's rotation, playing just 10 minutes per night over the first three games of the season, averaging 4.3 points.

Crowder has sat out the entire preseason and the Suns' first three games of the campaign, as he awaits word on a new home. He wasn't pleased over the summer when it came out that he wouldn't be starting anymore in Phoenix and demanded a trade. 

If the Heat are interested, however, they'll have to step up the offer. 

Photo: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports