NBA Free Agency: 5 playoff-bound teams that should pursue Jamal Crawford

Last week, we examined the 5 best available free agents at this point of the offseason. Figuring prominently at the top among those names was 3-time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award Jamal Crawford.

There are a number of problems that would crop up if Crawford was signed to one of the more talented, championship-contending rosters in the league - chiefly, his inability to play NBA-level defense. At the age of 38, it is pretty clear that J-Smoove's best days are behind him, but if last season was any indication, it is that Crawford is still a wizard at manufacturing buckets in trying situations.

Let's take a look at the 5 playoff contenders who stand to benefit sizeably by adding him to their roster for the 2018-19 season:

#1 Utah Jazz

Dante Exum, Alec Burks and Raul Neto are the 4 backcourt players for the Jazz expected to shoulder the scoring burden coming off the bench. Their frontcourt depth chart comprises of Favors, Crowder, Royce O'Neale and Thabo Sefolosha.

This cursory glance at their roster informs me that none of them are capable of dropping 30 points on a night when Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles are both misfiring. For a team with aspirations of becoming a contender, having a microwave scorer coming off the bench has been nothing short of a necessity across the history of the league.

Even at the age of 38, Crawford still has nights when he can win games for his team on his own. Given the Jazz's cap situation, they can afford to sign him for the veteran's minimum.

#2 Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers v Cleveland Cavaliers - Game Seven

The Pacers have had a sneakily good offseason. Good enough for me to rate it as at least an A, given who they acquired and who they let go. Adding Tyreke Evans has significantly bolstered their wing depth and given them another dimension, whether the 2009-10 Rookie of the Year comes off the bench or is featured in the starting lineup.

What they could do with, however, just like the Jazz, is adding a microwave scorer to their ranks for the price of a veteran's minimum. No one on the roster so far, other than Oladipo and Tyreke Evans, have demonstrated game-changing offensive ability. Myles Turner is getting there, but he still has a ways to go before being legitimately regarded as a pure scoring threat.

A bench unit of Cory Joseph, Crawford, Tyreke Evans, Doug McDermott and Domantas Sabonis would be a lethal one from 3-point range, as well as inside the paint.

#3 Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets have just about enough cap space to squeeze in another veteran presence in their backcourt, having already recruited Tony Parker for what look like the last 2 seasons of his NBA career.

Unlike Parker, Crawford is still quick enough to routinely get past NBA level defenders off the dribble. If the Hornets are serious about making a playoff push this year, they will need a lot more in terms of production from the likes of Malik Monk and Parker, but they'll also need a scorer who can get his shot off in almost any scenario.

Despite Crawford's failings on the defensive end, he's still good enough to provide the spark plug scoring that he's excelled at throughout his career. And the Hornets are in real need of it.

#4 Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets made a couple of salary cap-motivated moves this summer, using their trade exception on Wilson Chandler and trading Kenneth Faried to the Nets. Making these moves has helped them duck back under the luxury tax threshold after signing Nikola Jokic to a 5-year max deal, but has also hurt their rotation depth by a significant margin.

Malik Beasley is the only other recognized shooting guard on the roster (Will Barton is expected to start at the 3 spot), and he hasn't shown enough on either side of the ball for us to be convinced that he can be an impactful NBA player.

The Nuggets have already laid down a marker by signing Isaiah Thomas for the minimum. They realistically have no expectations of being able to improve their defense this offseason, which is why signing Jamal Crawford won't be affecting their fortunes on that end, but might well end up helping them win a crucial couple of games necessary to make the playoffs this season.

#5 New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans v Golden State Warriors - Game One

The Pelicans are a really top-heavy side. Adding Julius Randle will bolster their bench scoring and allow them to trot out arguably the best modern NBA frontcourt trio, since they already have Nikola Mirotic and Anthony Davis.

Adding to their bench will require budget additions, since they are only about $6.5 million below the luxury tax threshold and it makes no sense to pay the tax without a truly contending team in place. Other than Ian Clark, they have no recognizable scorer on their roster, and the former Warrior is best used in catch-and-shoot situations rather than when he's asked to create his own shot.

Anthony Davis will already be shouldering a monster load, as would be Jrue Holiday. Adding Jamal Crawford to this mix will allow them to rely more on their depth chart for scoring.