When the Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals in 2020, it was a result of everyone playing their role and doing their part. Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro were all rightfully praised as they each had huge games in route to Miami making their sixth ever NBA Finals appearance.
While those three were all deserving of all the plaudits they received, the Finals run was much more than three or four players stepping up. An important cog in that machine was Jae Crowder.
He was the 3&D wing that can guard positions one through five and catch fire from beyond the arc at seemingly random moments. When Crowder decided to leave for Phoenix in free agency, the Heat never, seemingly, found a player to replace, not only his skillset, but his mentality and intangibles as well.
Crowder brought the toughness that every locker room needs to succeed and the Heat missed that immensely this season. With that being said, here are three players that could finally serve as the long overdue Crowder replacement.
Miami Heat’s Jae Crowder Replacements: Markieff Morris
Everyone knows the reputation the Morris twins have around the league. They bring toughness and grittiness everywhere they go and can be solid contributors.
1. Markieff Morris
While the older twin, Marcus Morris, would be the ideal fit for this team, I doubt the Clippers would let him go. With that being said, Markieff Morris is the next best thing and could prove to be a good piece for Miami to bring in.
Just like Crowder, Morris can guard multiple positions and had a defensive rating of 108.2 this season, which is better than league average. He could be a good defender next to Bam and be that dog that is yelling in his ear telling him to be more aggressive, much like I imagine Crowder was doing.
The Heat have been missing a player cut from the same cloth as Crowder since he left and Markieff Morris is that guy. He will hold guys accountable and isn’t afraid to go at anyone in the league.
Morris is a guy that could change the locker room of the Heat and provide the impact that Crowder did on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, the main difference is that Morris is not shooting the three-ball nearly as efficiently as Crowder does (31 percent for Morris compared to 39 percent for Crowder in 2020-21).
While he can’t light it up from deep as well as Crowder can, Morris is more effective down low in the post and at scoring inside the paint. Morris shoots 52 percent on twos, while Crowder shoots 45 percent.
Their rebounding numbers are very similar as well. That means that Morris could help Bam on the boards as well.
Miami Heat’s Jae Crowder Replacements: P.J. Tucker
Just like Morris, P.J. Tucker will be an unrestricted free agent in 2021. Tucker just finished playing excellent defense on Kevin Durant in the Bucks’ seven game series win over the Nets and could be a great fit for Miami.
2. P.J. Tucker
P.J. is a seasoned vet who can also fill the Crowder role. His defense is most likely better than Crowder’s, while his offense probably is not as good.
Defensively, Tucker is one of the best players in the league. Like I mentioned earlier, he just finished playing great defense on the league’s most skilled scorer.
He can defend guards, wings, and even proved to be capable of handling much taller centers in the Rockets’ small ball experiment. Crowder’s defensive versatility is one of the reasons the Heat missed him so much in 2020-21 and Tucker is just as versatile, if not more.
Offensively, Tucker will not bring what Crowder did. He is a reliable three point shooter for his career, shooting about 36 percent but won’t take nearly the amount of shots Crowder would.
What you get with Tucker is an experienced veteran presence, who can play excellent defense and will give his all on the floor. Locker room wise, Tucker could be an excellent addition to a locker room already full of wise veterans.
He is not as outspoken or as “in your face” as Crowder is, but he is a veteran that younger players will listen to and take advice from. Tucker could be another voice in Bam’s ear, telling him to be less passive and to attack more, which alone, could help the Heat in bunches.
As much as performance matters on the court, intangibles are also an important part of roster building and I believe Tucker has the right ones to make a difference for Miami.
Miami Heat’s Jae Crowder Replacements: Rajon Rondo
Now I know Rajon Rondo is not a wing and definitely can not guard taller players like Crowder or the aforementioned players. However, that does not mean he isn’t just as gritty and can’t be as valuable as Crowder.
3. Rajon Rondo
Rondo has always been an excellent defensive guard and has emerged as one of the best leaders in the NBA. In the 2020 playoffs, Rondo was a huge piece in the Lakers’ Finals win.
While, offensively, he is not the same Rondo as the one from back in the day, I believe the court vision is still there and he is definitely a player whose voice will hold weight in the locker room. Rondo is tough, rough, and will not back down from anybody.
The intangibles he possesses would fit right in with the current squad and match up with Crowder’s. Rondo will get in players’ faces and hold them accountable without holding back.
He also has championship experience, which is something this current roster seems to lack. He was a key contributor in the 2020 playoffs and came up clutch for the Lakers many times in the Finals against Miami.
Rondo’s passing ability, mixed with his abrasiveness, could really help unlock Bam Adebayo. Think of what Chris Paul was able to do for DeAndre Ayton this season.
Obviously, Rondo is not the player Paul is, but he is certainly a more than serviceable passer and distributor of the ball. He averaged around six assists in his time with the Clippers, showing he is still an above average player when it comes to setting up teammates.
A player like Rondo, who will get in Bam’s face when he is not being aggressive enough and then set him up to attack or score, would be an amazing fit. One thing is obvious though.
No matter what player the Heat decide to pursue, there is a hole there. The Jae Crowder role must be filled as quickly as possible.
Crowder is long gone but he left the Heat with a parting gift. That came in the form of showing them how important a player of his mold is when building a roster to contend for a championship.