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Crawford finally rewarded
Why is it that Joe Crawford had to go all the way across country to finally get his NBA shot this season?

After maintaining a scoring average above 20 points per game all season in the D-League, Crawford is expected to be rewarded by being signed for the remainder of the season by the New York Knicks. The Lakers’ second-round pick in last year’s NBA draft had been playing at a high level all season long with the Lakers’ D-League affiliate Los Angeles D-Fenders. He scored a D-League high 41 points in a game earlier this season.

But even when guard Jordan Farmar was sidelined with a knee injury, the Lakers did not deem it beneficial to sign Crawford. The move would have been seamless, since the D-Fenders practice at the Lakers’ El Segundo practice site. Crawford knows the Lakers’ system, having gone through training camp with the team and the exhibition season. Crawford was the second-to-the-last cut in training camp, with the decision to waive him coming down to a choice between Crawford and the Lakers’ 2007 second-round pick Sun Yue.

Ironically, Sun ended up being assigned twice by the Lakers to the D-Fenders and started five games alongside Crawford. Despite being waived last fall, Crawford remained in favor. The Lakers’ coaching staff thinks highly of him because of his excellent work ethic and great attitude. Recently, when I asked Lakers assistant general manager Ronnie Lester about Crawford, Lester assured me that he believed that Crawford is a NBA-caliber player and hinted strongly that even this late in the season, it was not too late for a NBA team to pick Crawford up. If that indeed is he case, it would be a testimony to Crawford’s hard work, perseverence and patience.

magic1fan wrote:it might come back to haunt us. from what i've read about him i think we should have kept him over yue. i know you can teach size but sun has shown me absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!!!

larry14r wrote:

magic1fan wrote:it might come back to haunt us. from what i've read about him i think we should have kept him over yue. i know you can teach size but sun has shown me absolutely nothing!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, but then I get over it, and you should too.

Asianiac_24 wrote:Biggest missed opportunity is Critt..we could of got him for really cheap

microfib4thewin wrote:You guys acted like Critt became a FA or something. We don't have another first round pick until 2012, I doubt the Grizzles is interested in a pick that far away.

magic1fan wrote:

Asianiac_24 wrote:Biggest missed opportunity is Critt..we could of got him for really cheap

yeah i agree we should have gone after critt after we released him. right now imo he is better than farmar,especially on the defensive end.

DEEP3CL wrote:Hell yeah we've missed an opportunity big time. It was a TOTAL waste to even mess around with Yue,like I said here from day one......he wasn't going to help us at all.

snaquille oatmeal wrote:

microfib4thewin wrote:You guys acted like Critt became a FA or something. We don't have another first round pick until 2012, I doubt the Grizzles is interested in a pick that far away.

larry14r wrote:

magic1fan wrote:

Asianiac_24 wrote:Biggest missed opportunity is Critt..we could of got him for really cheap

yeah i agree we should have gone after critt after we released him. right now imo he is better than farmar,especially on the defensive end.

Expect he won't be eligble for the playoff roster so think about that one for a while.