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 the Boston Celtics for center Jason Collins and injured guard Leandro Barbosa at Thursday’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.

In other NBA deals on deadline day, there were just minor deals, with the biggest name being J.J. Redick, whom Orlando dealt to Milwaukee.

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“I don’t think I’ve seen fewer trade deadline deals, ever,” said Houston General Manager Daryl Morey, who completed two trades Wednesday. “But I think it’s a one-year blip.”

The rebuilding Magic decided Redick wasn’t in their plans while averaging career highs in points (15.1) and field-goal percentage (45.0). He was traded along with center Gustavo Ayon and reserve point guard Ish Smith to the Bucks in exchange for guards Doron Lamb and Beno Udrih, and forward Tobias Harris.

Golden State sent forward Jeremy Tyler to Atlanta and guard Charles Jenkins to Philadelphia in separate deals, slicing more than $1.5 million off its payroll after beginning the day about $1.2 million over the league’s $70,307,000 luxury tax.

The New York Knicks traded Ronnie Brewer to Oklahoma City to open a roster spot that will be used to give Kenyon Martin a 10-day contract. The Hawks sent Anthony Morrow to Dallas for Dahntay Jones.

THURSDAY’S GAME

HEAT 86, BULLS 67: LeBron James scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Miami beat host Chicago for its season-high ninth straight win.

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James also had seven assists in another big performance after ending his franchise-record seven-game streak of scoring at least 30 the previous night in Atlanta.

Dwyane Wade added 17 points, and the Heat took control in the first half, sending the Bulls to their fifth loss in seven games on a night when the Derrick Rose recovery story took another twist.

After saying last week that he wouldn’t rush back from his knee injury to play this season if he wasn’t ready, Chicago’s sidelined superstar had to go into damage control mode after his older brother Reggie blasted the organization in an ESPNChicago.com article for not making a move before Thursday’s trade deadline.

Things didn’t get much better once the game started.

Nate Robinson scored 14 points, Carlos Boozer had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Joakim Noah added 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, but he also committed four of the Bulls’ season-high 27 turnovers.

Chicago was particularly bad in the first half, coughing it up 17 times and falling behind 45-35.


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