Warriors acquire Crawford, Brooks

(AP) AP Source: Warriors acquire Crawford, Brooks
By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif.

The Golden State Warriors have been searching for a suitable backup to point guard Stephen Curry since veteran Jarrett Jack signed with Cleveland as a free agent last summer.

The Warriors had hoped Tony Douglas could help fill the void _ he couldn’t.

Now they’re counting on Jordan Crawford for more production.

A person familiar with the deal says the Warriors acquired Crawford and shooting guard MarShon Brooks from the Boston Celtics on Wednesday as part of a three-team trade.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade was still pending NBA approval, said Golden State sent Douglas to the Miami Heat. The Heat traded center Joel Anthony and two draft picks to the Celtics in a move that creates financial flexibility for the two-time defending NBA champions.

The deal, first reported by Yahoo Sports, gives Golden State more scoring punch behind Curry after the defensive-minded Douglas had struggled to provide much support.

Crawford is averaging 13.7 points and 5.6 assists this season but became expendable with Boston expecting All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo to return soon. Crawford also is shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from 3-point range.

Brooks had two up-and-down years with the Nets before splitting time with Boston and the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League this season. He’s averaging 3.1 points in 10 games with the Celtics.

Crawford and Brooks were not expected to be in uniform for Golden State’s home game against Denver on Wednesday night.

The Warriors had hoped Douglas could serve as the primary ball-handler behind Curry, but he missed 14 games because of a stress reaction in his left tibia and hasn’t been able to find a rhythm since he returned. Douglas averaged 3.7 points, 0.8 assists and 11 minutes in 24 games this season.

For the Heat, the gains are largely financial, both short- and long-term.

Anthony was making $3.8 million this season _ more than double what Douglas is earning _ and is on the books for another $3.8 million next season. The deal should save the Heat more than $10 million in salary and luxury tax payments over the next two seasons, and that may help when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh can all decide to become free agents this summer.

And because point guard Mario Chalmers is currently dealing with an Achilles problem, Douglas could provide some insurance there as well. Another option is that the Heat choose to simply absorb whatever’s left on Douglas’ $1.6 million contract this season to open a roster spot, one that they could possibly target free agent center Andrew Bynum with.

Anthony played in 12 games for Miami this season, logging more than three minutes just four times. He scored a total of six points and has been largely an afterthought in the Heat rotation since the team signed forward Chris Andersen to be their top big-man reserve last year.

The Heat also are awaiting the return of center Greg Oden, who has not played in a regular-season game in more than four years but has been steadily progressing in a rehab program since signing with Miami in the offseason.

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AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this story.