Trade sending Suns' Jae Crowder to Bucks nearing completion

Shams Charania reported that the Milwaukee Bucks were "on the ten-yard line" of their quest to add Phoenix's disgruntled power forward, Jae Crowder. 

The Suns mutually agreed that Crowder would skip training camp while the team sought a trade, but that absence has stretched to a full season.

Any potential move by Phoenix has been hamstrung all year by Robert Sarver's suspension and the still-pending sale of the team to Mat Ishbia. 

The Suns and Bucks seem to have no hesitation making trades, despite their 2021 Finals matchup — Milwaukee traded them Torrey Craig at the deadline that year. But the assets don't exactly line up for a deal.

Phoenix has won six of seven games, so they want a player who can help now, not just draft compensation. Maybe they could find a use for Nwora, Ibaka, or Hill, but that's essentially a list of expendable Bucks whose combined salaries match. 

Perhaps a third team that's interested in expiring deals or Nwora could re-route a wing player to Phoenix.

Milwaukee has met with Crowder, so the deal is clearly gaining momentum, however its final form might look. It's become an annual tradition for the Bucks to add frontcourt help at the deadline. 

Last year they traded for Serge Ibaka. In 2021, they got P.J. Tucker from the Rockets. In 2020, they signed Marvin Williams, and in 2019 they traded for Nikola Mirotic.

Meanwhile, Crowder may have sent a signal with an enthusiastic tweet supporting Marquette University, also located in Milwaukee.

We'll know when the trade is official because Crowder will break the news in all caps.