The sweat poured down Jae Crowder’s back, long sleeves draping his burly arms like whenever the 10-year NBA veteran steps onto hardwood. After another workout at Georgia State’s basketball facilities in downtown Atlanta, another session in secret, stowed away from the league’s regular season action, Crowder's trainer spun his cellphone around. “Look what just happened!”
Crowder squinted at the screen. It was the afternoon of Jan. 23, and the Washington Wizards had just traded forward Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers. A pang of defeat hit the grizzled swingman.