Phoenix Suns offer guard Jamal Crawford the veterans minimum

The Phoenix Suns have offered the veterans minimum to former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jamal Crawford, according to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.

According to the website CBAFAQ.com, the veterans minimum for the 2018-19 season is $2.4 million.

Crawford met with the Suns on Friday, per 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro. Interim general manager and vice president of basketball operations James Jones told Bickley & Marotta the team was interested in the guard prior to the news of the team offering him.

“I like Jamal. I know him personally. He’s a great player, he’s a great guy,” Jones said on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station. “Those are the types of players that we will look towards as we go through the season. More importantly, it’s not even about who potentially could be here or who’s out there. I’m focused on who’s here and we know who those guys are.

“Jamal is a name that — a guy that we’re looking at. He’s someone that we’ve expressed interest in, one of many names.”

Crawford averaged 10.3 points and 2.3 assists per game on 41.5 percent shooting from the field for the Timberwolves last year.

An 18-year veteran known for being instant offense off the bench, he is one of five players in league history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award twice and the only player to win the award three times. His last win was in the 2015-16 season for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Crawford, who has played point guard in the past, would give the Suns another ball-handler they can rely on offensively alongside Devin Booker and Josh Jackson.

Phoenix, by signing Crawford, would find themselves with a roster predicament with 17 players on the roster. They have to get that number down to 15 by 2 p.m. on Monday if they add a player like Crawford.

The Suns, though, can get that number to 17 with two spots for two-way contracts. Second-round pick George King holds one of those spots while the other is open.

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