WASHINGTON — Jordan Crawford got so disgruntled that the Washington Wizards traded him away for a pair of expiring contracts.
The Wizards sent Crawford, who has led the team in scoring 17 times this season, to Boston Celtics for center Jason Collins and injured guard Leandro Barbosa at yesterday’s trade deadline.
A streaky scorer, Crawford carried much of the offensive load in November and December, but he has been unhappy with his role since John Wall returned from a knee injury last month. Crawford started taking rash jumpers outside of the offensive game plan, and his playing time dwindled to zero. He unhappily flung his jersey into the stands after failing to play for the fourth straight game as he walked off the court following Tuesday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Crawford, a 2010 first-round draft pick, was acquired two years ago from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline. His average of 13.2 points is still third on this season’s Wizards despite his recent dip in playing time. Only rookie Bradley Beal has scored more total points, but Washington was only 1-11 with Crawford as a starter.
In exchange, the Wizards get two players who will be free agents this summer — and one of them is already out for the season. Barbosa tore the ACL in his left knee in a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats earlier this month.
A free agent who was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2006-07, Barbosa signed by the Celtics as a free agent last summer to backup Rajon Rondo while Avery Bradley recovered from shoulder surgery. Bradley has returned, but both Rondo and Barbosa are out with torn ACLs.
Barbosa averaged 5.2 points in 41 games in Boston.
Collins, an 11-year veteran, is known more for making contact than making baskets. Since the start of the 2006-07 season, he has 776 fouls and 554 points, including 74 fouls and 37 points this season.
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