BOSTON (CBS) â?? While Kyrie Irving heading to Boston and Isaiah Thomas’ hip injury have made up most of the headlines surrounding the Celtics-Cavaliers blockbuster trade, Jae Crowder has been a bit of an afterthought.
The three-and-D forward quickly became a fan favorite in Boston upon his arrival from Dallas in the Rajon Rondo trade back in 2014, and he was a big part of the team’s success over the last two seasons. But his role on the Celtics was up in the air after the team signed Gordon Hayward to a max contract in July, and that was just the tip of the iceberg in a whirlwind offseason for the forward.