Former Celtics Forward Could Suddenly Retire From NBA

The Boston Celtics prioritized building around Jayson Tatum after drafting him in 2018, leading them to move on from forward Jae Crowder just before Tatum arrived. The article states this decision was clearly correct.

Since leaving Boston after three seasons, Crowder has played for seven other NBA teams. However, his time in the league may be ending as there appears to be little market interest following a season where he played only nine games for the Sacramento Kings due to persistent injuries. His availability has been limited since the 2018-19 season.

The article raises the question of whether the Celtics, needing forward depth with Jayson Tatum out, should consider bringing Crowder back on a veteran's minimum contract. It notes his past ability to hit corner threes but questions his current health and defensive effectiveness.

The piece concludes that a return to Boston seems unlikely. At 35 years old and unable to prove he can contribute meaningfully to a winning team recently, Crowder's NBA career appears near its end. His decline is traced back to his decision to sit out much of the 2022-23 season due to unhappiness with the Phoenix Suns.

Despite his current situation, the article acknowledges that Celtics fans retain fond memories of Crowder's earlier contributions to the team.