INDIANAPOLIS -- When the Hawks drafted Jordan Crawford last summer, they billed him as a mini-version of Jamal Crawford.
But the veteran Crawford said he never got the freedom as a young player that Jordan Crawford is enjoying in Washington, where he's been on a scoring (and shooting) run.
"Twenty shots per [game] is normal for him right now," Jamal Crawford said, smiling. "I'm happy for him. It's going to make him a lot better, a lot faster."
Circumstances limited Jordan Crawford's opportunities with the Hawks before they traded him in February. When they play at the Wizards on Saturday night, the Hawks will see the unregulated version of Crawford, who entering Friday was averaging 17.1 points since the trade.
Crawford appeared in only 16 regular-season games for the Hawks and logged more than 10 minutes only seven times. The Hawks' roster is deep in shooting guards, and the team is focused on winning now, so Crawford wasn't part of the short-term plans.
The Hawks traded Crawford as part of the deal that got them starting point guard Kirk Hinrich. Hawks general manager Rick Sund had to scramble to find a replacement for Mike Bibby, who had become a defensive liability less than two seasons after Sund signed him to a three-year, $18 million contract.
At the time of the trade Sund said he didn't mind sending away a 2011 first-round draft pick, but reluctantly traded Crawford, the No. 27 overall pick in the 2010 draft.
"We hoped he would remain in the organization, but there are situations that come up where players have to be moved," Hawks coach Larry Drew said. "We thought this was an opportunity for us to get better and improve, but we clearly saw some potential in Jordan.
"We know he's capable. We know he's a guy that can score."
Crawford is doing it impressively, if not efficiently, for the Wizards.
Crawford had scored 20 or more points in 10 of his previous 16 games before Washington played Boston late Friday. Last week he scored 39 points against the Heat and two nights later posted a triple-double against the Cavaliers with 21 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
The Wizards are experiencing in large doses what the Hawks saw in flashes: Crawford is a talented, aggressive scorer with suspect shot selection, but no fear.
"That's what he does," said Hawks guard Jeff Teague, the team's first-round draft pick in 2009 who became fast friends with Crawford. "He's a scorer. He scored here. He's getting an opportunity with the Wizards, and he's making the most of it. I'm happy for him."
The Wizards are rebuilding around a group of young players that includes point guard John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. Crawford is getting lots of minutes and shots without much pressure to win.
As for Friday night's game, both Indiana and the Hawks are locked into their playoff position, so the game had the feel of an exhibition, one the host Pacers won 114-102. Both teams limited minutes for their starters, and Drew went deep into his bench while using unusual lineups.
None of the Hawks' starters played more than 30 minutes. Teague, the backup point guard, scored a team-high 21 points while starting shooting guard Joe Johnson had 17.
Despite the circumstances, Drew said he hoped whichever Hawks he put on the floor would show more resolve over the final four games. The Hawks have had several defeats this season in which they succumbed once they got down.
"I think that is kind of the word on us around the league, to be perfectly honest," Drew said. "It's an area where we have to grow as a team."
