NBA Free Agents 2011: 3 Potential Landing Spots for Jamal Crawford

There are going to be plenty of suitors for Jamal Crawford come December 9th.

The 11th-year pro out of Michigan is coming off a strong season for the Atlanta Hawks (14.2 points, 3.2 assists) and is looking for a fat mid-level deal where he’ll make anywhere between $4 to $7 million per year.

The Hawks (thanks in large part to Joe Johnson) simply don’t have the cap space to keep Crawford and the rest of the league is now salivating at the mouth. In fact, eight teams have already called his agent with interest in the 2010 Sixth Man of the Year: New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers.

Here are the three options that make the most sense for Crawford:

New Jersey Nets

The Nets can offer him the most shot attempts, something that surely interests the high-volume shooter. The 6'5" shooting guard can play off point guard Deron Williams and find himself with plenty of wide open opportunities.

The lack of shooters around him would likely make Crawford the second leading scorer on the team.

If winning isn’t his goal, this would be the place to cash in and pad the career stats.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers really don’t have anybody on their team that can consistently create their own shot, aside from Kobe Bryant, and Crawford would be a big help.

Crawford would be the perfect six-man to provide a spark to the offense and take some of the load off Kobe. For once, somebody besides Kobe could take a shot with the clock winding down. Crawford would be competing for a championship for the first time in his career as well.

Portland Trail Blazers

Portland prides themselves on defense, and Crawford’s versatility would certainly be a plus on that end. Offensively, he could take his fair of shots without teammates complaining (always a plus in this league) and would likely start because of his ability to attack opponents off the dribble.

Who knows how big winning is for Crawford, but Portland is certainly a contending team year after year. I think he would be a good fit for the half court, grind-it-out style of the Blazers.