Jamal Crawford leads list of NBA replacement players in Orlando

"L.A.’s Dance Instructor" is returning for one last waltz. The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran shooting guard Jamal Crawford to a substitution contract as the franchise attempts to plug a number of glaring holes prior to the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season.

The three-time Sixth Man of the Year is a proven bucket-getter who has averaged 14.6 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game over 19 seasons. He most recently played with the Phoenix Suns in 2018-19, but went unsigned despite dropping 51 points in the final game of the year.

Crawford will soak up many of the minutes vacated by Spencer Dinwiddie, who tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be joining the team in Orlando, and Kyrie Irving, who underwent surgery on his right shoulder in March and is still recovering.

Although Crawford is Brooklyn's most notable signing, he won’t be the only new face on the Nets when play gets underway later this month. The franchise has also signed former No. 2 pick Michael Beasley, combo guard Tyler Johnson, and G League standout Donta Hall. The club’s four new recruits will be asked to mesh together quickly as Brooklyn tries to hold on to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference without many of its most established players.

The Nets’ roster makeover has become commonplace in the NBA, as many key players have opted out of the remainder of the season for health and personal reasons. Here are five more substitution players who will have a chance to shine this summer in Florida.

J.R. Smith (Los Angeles Lakers)

NBA Twitter went into overdrive on July 1 when the Lakers announced they had signed free agent shooting guard J.R. Smith to a substitution contract. When he’s locked in, the former Sixth Man of the Year is a lethal scorer who can blow open games with his three-point stroke. When he’s not, things like this tend to happen:

It remains to be seen what kind of shape Smith is in after last playing in November 2018, but he should have plenty of chances to prove himself following Avery Bradley’s decision to skip out on the remainder of the season. The Lakers would be well advised to have medics standing by to monitor LeBron James’ blood pressure.

Joakim Noah (Los Angeles Clippers)

The Clippers bolstered the NBA’s best bench on June 27 when they signed Joakim Noah to a multi-year contract. The former Defensive Player of the Year enjoyed something of a renaissance last season in Memphis, where he averaged 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per games. Noah didn’t fit in with the Grizzlies youth movement, but he should be an excellent fit on the Clippers, where he’ll be asked to do the dirty work on a sizzling second unit featuring proven scorers Lou Williams, Reggie Jackson, and Montrezl Harrell.

Tyler Zeller (San Antonio Spurs)

We’re not going to sugarcoat this: Tyler Zeller is not LaMarcus Aldridge. The 30-year-old center won’t make anyone forget about L.A. as the seven-time All-Star recovers from shoulder surgery. However, Zeller is still an enormously useful player who fills an immediate need for San Antonio. Expect him to clean the glass, deliver bone-rattling picks, and make the occasional jump hook as the franchise tries to keep its 22-year playoff streak alive.

Corey Brewer (Sacramento Kings)

The Kings are giving Corey Brewer a second shot. "The Drunken Dribbler" is a former NBA champion and two-time NCAA title-winner who averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds for Sacramento in 2018-19. His best years are long over, but Brewer could still prove useful off the bench as a 3-and-D specialist as the Kings attempt to leapfrog the Pelicans and Blazers and sneak into the playoffs.

Luc Mbah a Moute (Houston Rockets)

The Rockets surprised many observers when they let Luc Mbah a Moute leave in free agency in 2018. "The Prince" was a low-maintenance grinder who had been at the heart of all of Houston’s best line-ups.

Two years later they’ve come to their senses and have signed him again. Mbah a Moute won’t dazzle you with his scoring or his ball handling, but he’s an advanced metrics darling who keeps the ball moving on offense and always seems to be in the right place on D. Even if he only buys PJ Tucker a few minutes of rest, he’ll be well worth the investment.

---

See the latest NBA odds at BetAmerica!