What’s New with PJ Tucker, the Former Forward for the 76ers?
Following his trade from the 76ers to the Clippers, PJ Tucker may be looking to sign with a new team shortly.
James Harden’s story ended on October 31st, when the Philadelphia 76ers traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers, sending the ten-time All-Star guard and veteran forward PJ Tucker packing.
Tucker joined the Sixers on a three-year contract, but his tenure was brief as he only made 78 appearances in the regular season after joining the team two summers prior.
Tucker was going through a significant transition, going from a full-time starter in Philadelphia to a reserve in Los Angeles. He saw the court for less than 15 minutes per game in Los Angeles, a decline from his average of over 20 minutes per game with the Sixers.
Tucker has been completely cut from the starting lineup following his first stint of 12 games with the Clippers. On November 27, Tucker made his final appearance of the season, playing six minutes against the Denver Nuggets.
It is officially less than a month until the NBA trade deadline. Although Tucker’s deal makes it difficult for a contender to consider his services at this stage in his career, you might still think of him as a potential trade possibility out of LA.
Tucker, who is 38 years old, is earning little more than $11 million this year. His contract includes a player option that would enable him to earn $11.5 million the following season.
According to Action Network’s Matt Moore, Senior NBA Writer, Tucker “would prefer a new home where he can contribute.”
Tucker may have a market, but the circumstances are said to be complex for a number of reasons. First off, by trading Tucker, the Clippers don’t want to bolster a direct contender for the championship. Even if the veteran forward hasn’t been helpful for LA on the court, a lot of coaches and players have talked about Tucker’s impact, which suggests that the forward is still valuable for teams hoping to advance far in the playoffs.
The teams that could be considering Tucker probably won’t be interested in him unless he is bought out. Moore identifies the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Sixers as “interested teams” in Tucker but notes that at this point, they view Tucker as a potential for a buyout.
The general public didn’t exactly celebrate Tucker’s time in Philadelphia. In 75 games, Tucker’s first and only full-season average was merely four points and four rebounds. Despite being a reliable three-point shooter (averaging 39 percent from outside the arc), he only attempted 1.9 three-pointers a game.
