Report: Atlanta Hawks 'suitor' for Phoenix Suns veteran Jae Crowder

The Phoenix Suns are less than two weeks away from their season opener and still officially have Jae Crowder on their roster.

Maybe the Atlanta Hawks can change that.

The Athletic's Shams Charania is reporting the Hawks are a "suitor among NBA teams" for the veteran forward as the Suns have been looking to trade him.

Crowder is from Villa Rica, Ga., which is around 30 minutes from Atlanta.

Charania added that Hawks and the Suns have had talks in "recent weeks and months" as Atlanta sees a way to have Crowder join its big three of Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and John Collins.

Crowder and the Suns "mutually agreed" he wouldn't attend training camp while Suns coach Monty Williams added he'd like to see something done with this situation before the Oct. 19 season opener against Dallas at Footprint Center.

A possible trade would be for Phoenix to deal Crowder and Dario Saric to Atlanta for Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Crowder is due $10.1 million and Saric is set to make $9.2 million. Both are in the final year of their respective deals.

Bogdanovic has two years remaining on his deal for $18 million each year. The Suns drafted Bogdanovic 27th overall in the 2014 draft, but he remained overseas playing pro ball and later started his NBA career with Sacramento.

All three will be unrestricted free agents at the conclusion of their respective deals.

The Suns would miss Crowder's leadership, defensive versatility, experience and ability to catch fire from 3, but Bogdanovic can score on the perimeter and at 6-6 is a tough matchup for smaller guards.

Averaging 14.2 points in his five NBA seasons, Bogdanovic averaged 15.4 points in 63 games for the Hawks last season.

Bogdanovic had knee surgery in June and has yet to return during preseason.

The Hawks announced back in June they expected Bogdanovic to make a full recovery before the 2022-23 season from surgery on his right patella tendon after being hampered by knee inflammation.

As for Saric, he's finally returned in Wednesday's preseason win over the Lakers in Las Vegas after missing all last season with a torn right ACL suffered in Game 1 of the 2021 finals.

The 6-10 big scored 12 points in the comeback victory, but is ruled out for Monday's preseason game at Denver due to personal reasons.

Phoenix plays its final preseason game Wednesday against Sacramento.

The Suns have been trying to figure out in camp whether to play Saric at the four or the five. They're now starting Cam Johnson at the four and having Torrey Craig as Johnson's backup at that position.

Saric didn't play in the first preseason game the Suns lost to the Adelaide 36ers of Australia's NBL. After Sunday's practice, Williams said they could play Saric or Jock Landale at the four with Johnson being out with a sprained right thumb.

Johnson is expected to miss Phoenix's last two preseason games as is Cameron Payne (sprained right finger) as both suffered the injuries against the Lakers.

Landale, who the Suns acquired in a trade with the Hawks in the offseason, has averaged 12 points in Phoenix's two preseason games.

'We talk man': Deandre Ayton addresses relationship with Monty Williams, offseason and more

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.

Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Jae Crowder, Dario Saric to Atlanta for Bogdan Bogdanovic?