When the Houston Rockets traded NBA superstar James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, it was the official end of an era. Harden was the key cog in the Mike D’Antoni years, and with him being traded away, it was only a matter of time until the full roster teardown began.
DeMarcus Cousins was the next to go. The team guaranteed his contract for the season and then announced the next day they would be parting ways. The guaranteeing of his contract was to reward him for how he carried himself during the season and to show people they will take care of their free agents.
It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Rockets make more moves before the NBA trade deadline. Victor Oladipo, who was acquired in the James Harden blockbuster, could be traded again as it sounds like Houston has no intentions of signing him to a long-term contract. Another player to keep an eye on as the deadline approaches is PJ Tucker.
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Given the Rockets’ plans to go smaller and younger around Christian Wood in the middle, Tucker no longer fits their plans. There will be no shortage of contenders looking to acquire him for a stretch run this season.
Over at the subscription-based The Athletic, it is being reported that three teams are emerging as potential landing spots for Tucker. The Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets have all sniffed around on Tucker according to the report.
While the Jazz, Nuggets, and Nets are the three specific teams mentioned, it would not be surprising if the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers also got into the mix.
It is no surprise that PJ Tucker would be a sought-after commodity. His style of play is exactly what every team looking to win could use. He doesn’t need the ball offensively and is a sniper on 3-pointers from the corner to help spread the floor.
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Defensively, he is also a menace. In D’Antonio’s small-ball attack, Tucker played a lot of center, so he has no problem banging on the interior. He is also still athletic enough to hang with players on the perimeter, giving teams the ultimate Swiss army knife on defense.
PJ Tucker is one of the players that could swing the playoff race depending on where he lands. He is someone that would fit seamlessly into the rotation for any team lucky enough to acquire him. Whether it’s the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, or another organization, he will be an intriguing player to watch in NBA trade rumors.
