By Chris Haynes, CSNNW.com Trail Blazer Insider (@ChrisBHaynes)
The unrestricted free-agent, Jamal Crawford, has apparently narrowed down his choices to the New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, and the Portland Trail Blazers. I'm told the Kings and Blazers are in the lead.
The Blazers have an offer on the table of 5 million and the Kings are offering 6.5 million. Crawford wants a 2-year deal with an opt-out after year one.
According to a source familiar with the talks, the Blazers have offered Crawford the chance to start immediately while Sacramento said he could crack the starting five by mid-season.
I'm told he's torn between the two as each team has its pros and cons. He could elect to play close to home and start, or he could fall into the same reserve role he's had the majority of his career with a better deal financially.
Crawford has reached out to current Kings players to get a feel for what it's like in Sacramento and if he is to go with the Kings, a source has told CSNNW.com that the Kings will use the amnesty on Francisco Garcia to clear up room. I've not been able to confirm if Crawford has spoken with a Blazer as of yet.
There's also news about Gerald Wallace being included in a three-team deal that would send him along with Brook Lopez to the Orlando Magic and finally landing Dwight Howard in New Jersey. The Blazers could extract multiple first-round picks for helping facilitate the deal.
This deal could open the door for Carl Landry and Crawford to become members of the Blazers this season. That is, if the Blazers use their amnesty on Brandon Roy or if they're granted the Disabled Player Exception. The DSP would grant a team 5 million for only one season if that injured player being Roy, is deemed to be unable to compete this season.
Having been in contact with Landry throughout free-agency, I'm told the Blazers are still in the mix and if this Wallace deal goes through, the Blazers' immediate and long term future could start looking bright again.