Heat Rumors: Jae Crowder Trade Still Interests MIA; Has Yet to Make Appealing Offer

The Miami Heat continue to register interest in Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder ahead of the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline, according to the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson (h/t RealGM).

However, the Phoenix Suns' unwillingness to receive Duncan Robinson in the deal has been a roadblock, as has the Heat declining to include Caleb Martin in the swap.

Crowder has yet to play this season as he continues to wait for a change of scenery.

In December, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on his Hoop Collective podcast teams have found it "challenging to do trade business with the Suns." Regarding a Crowder deal, Phoenix wasn't finding any straight-up offers to its liking and was pushing for three-team trades as a result.

Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported the framework of one such transaction was in place. The Suns would've received Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards, with Crowder going to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Wizards wound up moving Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The presence of Suns governor Robert Sarver could be another hurdle. Windhorst reported on Jan. 3 that Sarver, despite being suspended for a year, "still has to give personal sign-off on any deal for a player with a salary that is more than the current 'average player salary.'"

Until Mat Ishbia is officially approved as the team's new governor, any Crowder trade might require Sarver's approval.

All of those factors aside, the Heat have always been one of the more sensible landing spots for the 32-year-old. He spent the second half of the 2019-20 season in Miami and played an important role for the team as it reached the NBA Finals.

Crowder, who has shot 35.5 percent from beyond the arc over the past six years, would provide some needed floor-spacing as well. Miami ranks 16th in made threes (11.9 per game) and 27th in three-point percentage (33.5).

But a reunion purely remains hypothetical with the Suns' continued reluctance to execute a trade.