Best Potential Trade Packages and Destinations for L.A. Clippers' Jamal Crawford

In the aftermath of DeAndre Jordan's decision to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, it looks like Jamal Crawford will become collateral damage as the Los Angeles Clippers' attempt to balance out their roster.

Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders first heard that the Clippers may decide to use Crawford as trade bait. And, with his rumor mill reaching fever pitch, per HoopsHype, it appears that's just what they've done.

Finding a new home for him won't be easy. Not because there won't be interest, but because he's 35 years old and working off a season in which he missed more than 15 games for the first time since 2008-09.

But, at the same time, Crawford cleared 15 points per game for the third consecutive season in 2014-15 and remains an offensive spark plug. He also maintains that he's raring to go—15 years of wear and tear be damned.

"I'm 100 percent healthy, motivated and ready for next year," he told the Northeast Ohio Media Group's Chris Haynes. "I believe I have a big year in store. I'm just excited and ready for next season."

Some are speculating the Clippers will look to dump Crawford's $5.7 million salary in favor of more financial flexibility. But as former Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Bobby Marks notes, their "best resort" consists of using "Crawford and non-guarantees to bring back" actual NBA players.

That does, indeed, make more sense. The Clippers are operating as a non-taxpaying team at the moment, which means they can take back salary equal to 150 percent plus $100,000 of their outgoing salary.

Trading Crawford alone would allow them to acquire a player worth nearly $8.7 million. They couldn't even spend close to that on the open market.

Moving him in exchange for tangible talent is the Clippers' best bet. They need help in the frontcourt after losing Jordan, and Crawford is their only trade headliner capable of netting them some.

Chicago Bulls

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Los Angeles Clippers Get: PF Taj Gibson and G Kirk Hinrich

Chicago Bulls Get: SG Jamal Crawford, SG Jordan Hamilton and SG C.J. Wilcox

Let's party.

Gibson has staked his claim has a two-way factotum and, at times, he can be invaluable to the Bulls for his ability to dance between the power forward and center positions. But it's the dawn of a new regime in Chicago.

Sophomores Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic will need to see time at power forward under new head coach and spacing advocate Fred Hoiberg, while Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah are more than enough to keep things humming at the 5.

Using McDermott or Mirotic as a small forward is a way to combat this logjam. It's also a ludicrous idea. Neither is quick enough to defend opposing 3s, and Tony Snell deserves to see some burn behind Mike Dunleavy.

Unloading Gibson is the easiest way to clear the way for everyone. He's now 30 years old and working off left ankle surgery. Grantland's Zach Lowe identified him as the odd man out in Chicago's postseason eulogy, and that was before the Bulls drafted Bobby Portis with the No. 22 overall pick in late June.

Gauging Gibson's value is difficult given his age and kind-of, sort-of outdated offensive skill set as a power forward. But moving him to the Clippers allows the Bulls to take a flier on Wilcox, a cheap wing who becomes important if Snell prices himself out of Chicago's range in the coming summers.

This also lets them shed Hinrich's $2.9 million salary. And while that may not seem like much, it's actually a ton. Hinrich just wrapped up a season in which he posted the fourth-worst player efficiency rating in league history (6.8) among all qualified guards. 

Crawford makes way more sense as a second-unit combo guard. He drilled 38 percent of his spot-up threes last season and has never posted an assist percentage under 14.

Accepting this package saves the Bulls more than $4 million, putting them on the verge of dipping under the projected $81.6 million luxury-tax threshold they've already crossed. They could either bask in the savings or be more inclined to dole out the $3.4 million taxpayer mid-level exception they're holstering.

No lengthy explanation is necessary for the Clippers. They need help up front, and Blake Griffin and Gibson can act as an interchangeable 4 and 5 platoon in the starting lineup.

Opponents also shot just 45.5 percent against Gibson at the rim last season. That's a better mark than even Jordan (48.5), and it ranked ninth among the 83 players to contest at least five such shots per game.

Footing the bill for Hinrich is a small price to pay for Gibson's defensive value, especially when Hinrich may end up as the Clippers' best option to back up Chris Paul.

Cleveland Cavaliers

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Los Angeles Clippers Get: C Anderson Varejao

Brooklyn Nets Get: SG Jamal Crawford, SG Jordan Hamilton, C Brendan Haywood and SG Lester Hudson (can't be traded until July 11)

Cleveland Cavaliers Get: SG Joe Johnson

As the Cavaliers continue to look for teams to bite on Haywood's non-guaranteed $10.5 million salary, they've been linked to both Johnson and Crawford, according to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein.

Combining those interests to help anchor a three-team trade is best for all parties involved. The Cavaliers get one of their primary targets in Johnson, and the Nets save a ton on luxury-tax payments for 2015-16 without absorbing the $30 million Varejao is owed over the next three seasons.

Grabbing Crawford also gives the Nets another impact scorer to replace Johnson, as well as additional playmaking insurance behind the declining Deron Williams and enigmatic Jarrett Jack.

Justifying a return of only Varejao on the Clippers' end is more complicated. But Bleacher Report's Fred Katz simplifies it considerably:

"

Varejao isn't the best offensive fit next to Griffin, but the Clippers can't afford to be picky, and considering the lack of quality free-agent centers and the possibly scarce market for Haywood (in any other year, the Haywood contract would be more valuable than it is now, but the anticipated 2016 cap rise makes his non-guaranteed number not quite as sought out), Varejao might be the most talented center they can get.

"

Varejao isn't going to protect the rim. Not even a little bit. Opponents shot 64.2 percent against him inside six feet of the basket prior to last season's injury.

But he makes life easier on the Clippers by giving them a body to plug in the middle and hoarding rebounds. He has never averaged fewer than nine boards per 36 minutes, and he's a much better passer inside the post than Jordan.

The tail end of his deal doesn't look so bad either. The salary cap will hit $89 million for 2016-17 and $107 million for 2017-18, and Varejao's contract isn't even guaranteed beyond next season.

Short on cash and tradable assets, the Clippers could do worse than to nab Varejao—even if it means overlooking that he hasn't cleared 70 single-season appearances since 2009-10.

Miami Heat

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Los Angeles Clippers Get: PG Mario Chalmers and C Chris Andersen

Miami Heat Get: SG Jamal Crawford, SG Justin Hamilton and SG Lester Hudson

Haynes brings word that the Heat are among those pursuing a Crawford trade. 

That makes sense.

Dwyane Wade will be lucky to make 60 appearances next season, and with rookie Justise Winslow able to spend time at the 3, there will be minutes to go around at the 2-guard spot.

Chalmers has functioned as Miami's hybrid guard for the better part of a decade, but neither he nor Shabazz Napier rivals Crawford's playmaking chops. He can come off the bench as that high-energy sixth man and relieve either Goran Dragic or Wade. That's a beautiful thing.

Losing Andersen is a gamble in that it leaves Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Hassan Whiteside to cover the 4 and 5 slots. But that's doable, and the Heat still have some salary exceptions to dangle in free agency.

Besides, their financial commitments have skyrocketed in the wake of retaining Dragic and Wade. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald has them looking to dump salary, and Andersen and Chalmers are among the players they're prepared to move.

Both players are more valuable to the Clippers anyway. Chalmers is the backup point guard that L.A. doesn't yet employ, and his 38 percent clip on catch-and-shoot treys will allow him to operate alongside Paul.

Even at 37, Andersen is a defensive upgrade up front. His block rate last season (4.5) would have been second only to Jordan if he played for the Clippers, and he almost ranked in the top half of rim protection among all 83 players who contested at least five point-blank opportunities per game.

"Almost" is hardly a reassuring adverb in this situation. At the same time, cash-strapped, asset-poor teams cannot be selective.

Andersen would replace some of what Jordan took with him—including above-the-rim finishes. And, under the circumstances, that'll have to be enough.

Milwaukee Bucks

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Los Angeles Clippers Get: PG Jerryd Bayless and C Miles Plumlee

Milwaukee Bucks Get: SG Jamal Crawford

Signing Greg Monroe is a boon for the Bucks' low-post offense. It is not, however, conducive to their developing both John Henson and Plumlee, both of whom are best suited where Monroe is best suited: center.

Although Henson would be the ideal target for the Clippers, they have no imminent first-rounders to package with Crawford. Proposing a Crawford-for-Henson swap would likely do nothing except incite uncontrollable fits of giggling inside Milwaukee's front office.

Plumlee, on the other hand, is totally gettable. He's basically the fourth center on the Bucks' depth chart now, behind Monroe, Henson and Zaza Pachulia. The Clippers can offer him much more playing time and even a shot at landing the starting center gig beside Griffin.

Much like Jordan, Plumlee won't create his own offense. But he's explosive for someone who stands just under 7'0", per Draft Express, and his around-the-basket touch isn't bad. He converted more than 60 percent of his shots inside the restricted area last season.

Through his 19 appearances with the Bucks, Plumlee also played the part of a staunch iron guardian, allowing opponents to shoot just 40 percent at the rim. The small sample size is troubling, though, and he did let up 52.7 percent success rates through 54 tilts with the Phoenix Suns.

Still, it's not like the Clippers are flush with other options. Plumlee would also be accompanied by Bayless, who is beyond expendable after Milwaukee traded for Greivis Vasquez and satisfies Los Angeles' need for a serviceable second-string floor general.

Sending Crawford to Milwaukee would be truly intriguing. He's a more consistent playmaker and shooter than O.J. Mayo, and he injects some much-needed spacing into a Bucks offense that ranked 25th in efficiency and 26th in three-point attempts for 2014-15.

As an added incentive, Crawford offers Bucks head coach Jason Kidd the option of deploying the all-gangly lineup of Michael Carter-Williams, Crawford, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Henson.

For reasons that aren't immediately clear outside of aesthetic appeal, that matters.

Phoenix Suns

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Los Angeles Clippers Get: PF Markieff Morris 

Phoenix Suns Get: SG Jamal Crawford and SG C.J. Wilcox

Embrace the small-ball movement.

No matter whom the Clippers actually land, Griffin will have to jump center for stretches at a time. Jordan averaged nearly 35 minutes per game last season—court time that won't soon be replaced by making one trade.

The sooner coach and president Doc Rivers accepts this, the sooner the Clippers can go out and target a stretch 4 to pair with Griffin—Morris, for instance.

Jordan Schultz of the Huffington Post is hearing that the Suns are trying to move Morris because "he and [Jeff] Hornacek don't get along." Phoenix also just traded his brother, Marcus, to the Detroit Pistons.

Morris is worth more than Crawford and what is essentially a late first-rounder in Wilcox on paper. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season, and there's a semblance of three-point range to his game (32.8 percent for his career).

But he has never thrived outside Phoenix and is battling "felony aggravated assault" charges, according to ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne. His contract, while reasonably priced, also spans through 2018-19 and eats up $7.4 million of cap space next summer, when the league's salary ceiling will explode.

Nevertheless, it is affordable. And the Clippers could use a big with outside range to capitalize on the smaller lineup combinations they'll be forced to run. Thirty-five percent of Morris' minutes came at the 5 last season to boot, so he can play some center.

If the Suns are truly done with him, they should at least consider this deal. Crawford represents instant scoring off the pine, and Wilcox is a good get with Reggie Bullock now in Detroit.

Acquiring Crawford and Wilcox saves the Suns about $1.2 million in salary commitments as well. That's flexibility they can forge on top of their existent wiggle room to absorb unwanted deals between now and February's trade deadline.

Flipping Morris does leave the Suns without a true 4 on the roster, but they're not without options. Gerald Green is 6'8" and can pass as a floor-spacing power forward these days. He and the Suns might be able to hammer out a return under the guise of a completely different on-court environment.

Darrell Arthur has gradually started working the three-pointer into his offensive repertoire—career-high 110 attempts last season—and is still floating around. The Suns could even try to make a play for restricted free Mirza Teletovic.

Heck, Schultz even says they're angling for a Ryan Anderson trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. Building a package around Cleveland's 2016 top-10 protected pick might put those wheels in motion.

So yes, the Suns will have options after moving Morris.

Their backcourt rotation will also go from "formidable" to "crazy scary" with Crawford in tow.

Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com unless otherwise cited. Salary information via Basketball Insiders and Larry Coon's CBA FAQ. Draft-pick commitments from RealGM. Free-agency signings come from Bleacher Report's free-agent big board.

Dan Favale covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @danfavale.