Details emerge from Jamal Crawford’s buyout with Atlanta Hawks

In early July, the Atlanta Hawks executed a trade to acquire a 2018 first round pick (via Houston) and Diamond Stone in exchange for taking on the remainder of Jamal Crawford’s contract. When the deal happened, all indications were that the Hawks would come to a buyout agreement with Crawford, who was owed more than $17 million in guaranteed money over the next two seasons.

That agreement quickly came to reported fruition and, now, we have clarity on just how much Crawford will count against the salary cap in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders brings word that Crawford’s 2017-2018 cap number will be $10,942,762, with $2,304,226 sitting on the books for the 2018-2019 campaign.

Chris Vivlamore of the AJC first reported an approximate $11 million salary cap figure for next season and this is, of course, directly in line with that. In terms of value, this is essentially the Hawks using $13.2 million in cap space over a two-year period in order to extract a first-round pick and an additional asset (a former No. 40 overall pick in Stone) and that is roughly commensurate with other trades in the same vein. In addition, it should be noted that the 2018-2019 figure could be (positively) affected on Atlanta’s side based on the offset amounts from Crawford’s decision to sign in Minnesota.

In some circles, it may be seen as controversial that the Hawks would “do Crawford a favor” in buying him out instead of marketing him in trade or, essentially, forcing him to report to Atlanta. Still, Crawford’s contract was not one of value based on his age and previous play and, with this move, the veteran gives back $4 million in order to secure the ability to sign elsewhere.

Stay tuned.