Celtics sign Jae Crowder for five years, $35 million, per report

The Boston Celtics have re-signed free agent Jae Crowder to a five-year, $35-million contract, according to Shams Charania of RealGM.

Crowder, a 2012 second-round draft pick by the Mavericks, was dealt as part of the Rajon Rondo trade last December and found himself in a much larger role with the Celtics. Dallas was fine without him, moving Al-Farouq Aminu into his place who excelled with the additional minutes (and was on his way to taking Crowder's spot anyway before the trade). Aminu signing a four-year, $30 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers to open free agency this summer, meaning that he will be paid slightly more per year than what Crowder is making.

Some of us at Mavs Moneyball have been vocal detractors of Crowder, but our main complaint hasn't been him as a player, but the perception many around the NBA have of him. Crowder's a solid eighth man who is never in the wrong spot on defense and can occasionally knock down an open corner three-pointer. He's not nearly as dynamic as Aminu was, nor does he have the same room to grow, since he was a four-year college player, but fit him in that role and he can provide a team with solid, mistake-free minutes.

Boston made sense as the clear front runner because they could offer him more money and a defined role. Good for Crowder to get his money and good for the Celtics to sign a hard-working player who they may or may not eventually realize isn't a poor man's Draymond Green but still is a solid rotation member off the bench.

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This post has been updated with news of Boston and Crowder agreeing to a deal.