You can add another team to the Jordan Crawford sweepstakes. USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reports that the Dallas Mavericks have joined the fray.
While Wizards and Celtics have talked about deal for Jordan Crawford, Mavs and Wizards also discussed Crawford trade.
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) February 21, 2013
The Mavericks have a number of interesting young pieces that line up in a potential Crawford deal. CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported that the Mavericks are shopping guards Rodrigue Beaubois and Dominique Jones. Later, he noted that Brandan Wright is also available, and the Mavericks also have Jared Cunningham and Jae Crowder hanging around the bottom of their bench. All but Beaubois have salaries that match up perfectly in a potential Crawford deal.
Of the players mentioned, I'd prefer Wright and Crowder the most. Crowder was a favorite of mine around draft time, and Wright's the kind of long, active big man that hasn't been given a chance yet.
Problem is, as Berger notes that the Mavericks are shopping for draft picks, so I'm not sure whether they'd move anyone to get Steez. Also, Mavs Moneyball is not a fan:
I live in Washington, DC and have had the displeasure of watching Mr. Crawford. If Dallas is aiming to have a back court filled with players who have no idea how to actually play team basketball, this is really a step in the right direction. He's owed $2.16 million next year. He's inefficient. He doesn't fit.
In any event, I think this is a more preferable scenario than dealing Crawford for Fab Melo.
Here's our general deadline-day open thread.
UPDATE: ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon shoots this down, but we'll see.