Blazers, Pacers Talk Jamal Crawford Trade
Chad Ford of ESPN.com linked the Indiana Pacers to interest in Portland Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford on Wednesday. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported earlier Thursday that the Blazers were seeking a first round pick in Crawford deals.
A league source confirmed those reports on Wednesday, providing some additional details of talks between the teams.
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A league source with knowledge of the situation told CBSSports.com later Thursday that reported talks between the Blazers and Pacers are "legitimate" and have included a scenario that would send Crawford to Indiana for guard A.J. Price and a 2012 first round pick. Indiana has sufficient salary cap space to absorb Crawford's contract without matching salaries.
Indiana, the source said, is hesitant to part with a first round pick, given the quality and depth of this year's draft pool as well as Crawford's contract situation.
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Crawford's player option for 2012-2013 -- and the uncertainty that goes with it -- could be hurting his value during early trade talks.
"The first team to give Portland a first round pick for Crawford will have him," the source predicted.
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Crawford has previously been linked to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers in rumors.
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-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter