Sources: Jae Crowder, Milwaukee Bucks have talked after Phoenix Suns granted permission

Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) defends against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during Game 2 of the NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena July 8, 2021.

Jae Crowder has talked with the Milwaukee Bucks as the Phoenix Suns granted the Bucks permission to speak with the veteran forward, sources inform The Republic.

The meeting went well as the two sides met at an undisclosed location for a day, sources said.

The Suns have been trying to trade Crowder as they “mutually agreed” he wouldn’t attend training camp back in September. The Bucks have been one of the teams interested in Crowder along with the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and others.

Crowder came to Phoenix as a free agent on a three-year, $30-million deal and was instrumental in the Suns reaching the 2021 NBA Finals his first season and having the NBA’s best record last season in winning a franchise-record 64 games.

Averaging 9.6 points in 10 NBA seasons, Crowder started all 80 games he played for the Suns last season counting the playoffs. The 6-6, 235-pound forward averaged 9.4 points last season.

Last week, a candid Chris Paul spoke about missing Crowder.

“Jae, 9-9, I miss him,” the Suns All-Star point guard said after last Thursday’s loss to Dallas. “I miss him. Ain’t no secret about it. That’s one of our brothers. I came here with Jae. Hope he good 9-9, you out there, hope you good, but it’s a business, it’s the league. It is what it is.”

The trade deadline is Feb. 9. The Suns (27-25) play the Hawks (25-26) Wednesday at Footprint Center.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) celebrates with forward Jae Crowder (99) against the Denver Nuggets during game two in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center in Phoenix on June 9, 2021.

“That’s my dog for life,” Paul continued about Crowder. “Regardless, whatever is going on. It’s always going to be love here with me and 9-9.”

The Suns have yet to play the Bucks this season. They’ll meet for the first time on Feb. 26 in Milwaukee and complete the home-away series on March 14 in Phoenix.

The Bucks beat the Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals in six games in Crowder’s first season with the Suns, who had a 2-0 series lead before losing four straight.

Crowder played college ball at Marquette in Milwaukee.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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