With less than two weeks to go before the NBA trade deadline, the Jae Crowder talks are starting to heat up.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Milwaukee Bucks have received permission from the Phoenix Suns to meet with Crowder.
Charania noted the Miami Heat are among the teams that remain interested in Crowder. The Atlanta Hawks have also been connected to the 32-year-old throughout this process.
"Both the Suns and Bucks have engaged in serious trade talks for months, with current proposals surrounding Jordan Nwora, George Hill, Serge Ibaka and second-round draft compensation to Phoenix for Crowder," Charania wrote. "The Bucks and Suns have searched for a third team to provide Phoenix with a forward–so what outcome will emerge between now and next Thursday?"
Charania noted new Hawks president of basketball operations Landry Fields has been willing to take a patient approach in trade talks.
Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill noted last week that Milwaukee is likely to trade for a wing player before the Feb. 9 trade deadline.
Crowder has yet to play for the Suns this season after requesting a trade in the offseason.
Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, a three-team framework is considered the "most likely avenue" for a Crowder trade. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said on NBA Countdown last week that the Bucks have been looking for a third team to help complete a deal that would bring Crowder to Milwaukee.
There figures to be a lot of competition for Crowder, though it's unclear who will be able to come up with a trade that gets the Suns to accept a deal.
Per Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat's conversations with Phoenix "simply haven't gained traction" thus far because the Suns aren't interested in taking on Duncan Robinson's contract.
The Bucks have been working Khris Middleton back into their rotation since he returned from a knee injury on Jan. 23. He has come off the bench in their past four games and hasn't played more than 18 minutes during that span.
Crowder would give Milwaukee another versatile player who could help on both ends of the court down the stretch. He has averaged 9.6 points per game and is a career 34.6 percent three-point shooter in 10 seasons.
The Bucks' main issue this season has been scoring. They rank 17th in points per game (114.1) and 22nd in offensive rating (113.3).
If they get Middleton back at full strength and can add a wing player of Crowder's caliber, they will be well set to compete with anyone in the Eastern Conference as they try to get back to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
