The Los Angeles Clippers and veteran ahead P.J. Tucker have mutually agreed to permit Tucker to steer clear of the workforce as either side work in the direction of a decision on his future, the Clippers introduced Sunday. The Clippers landed Tucker as a part of their blockbuster commerce acquisition of James Harden in 2023. He had an $11.5 million participant choice for the 2024-25 season that he selected to train.
“We have had ongoing conversations with P.J. all through the offseason and have each determined that he will not be with the workforce in the interim,” the Clippers wrote in an announcement. “P.J. is a professional who has achieved so much in his profession and there is extra he needs to perform. We’ll proceed working with P.J. and his consultant to seek out one of the best state of affairs for him shifting ahead.”
Tucker, a former second-round decide who spent 5 seasons enjoying overseas earlier than returning to the NBA and establishing himself as a worthwhile position participant, has been among the many NBA’s extra versatile defensive gamers over the previous decade and alter. After steadily rising on lottery-bound Phoenix Suns groups, he broke out after signing with the Houston Rockets in 2018. The Rockets used him as a small-ball heart that might stretch the ground and change throughout a number of positions. That versatility helped him win a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, almost make it again to the NBA Finals with the Miami Warmth, after which earn a hefty three-year deal from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers, nevertheless, determined to plan round 2024 cap house and wanted to clear their current contracts off of the books as they regarded for a Harden commerce. They subsequently moved Tucker and his 2024-25 participant choice within the Harden deal. The Clippers anticipated Tucker to be a worthwhile bench participant for them, however he struggled to carve out a job. He appeared in solely 28 video games with Los Angeles, however given his age (39) and people restricted alternatives, he acknowledged that he couldn’t out-earn the $11.5 million he was owed on that choice and picked it up.
Nonetheless, he would seemingly choose to be on a workforce that might be extra excited by enjoying him. The Clippers misplaced Paul George this offseason, however added various defensive-minded wings like Derrick Jones Jr., Nic Batum and Kris Dunn. They do not have minutes to supply him, so they may now seemingly hunt down a commerce with Tucker’s expiring contract. If no commerce may be discovered, it’s attainable that Tucker and the Clippers finally comply with a buyout. For now, although, he’ll hold his distance as he and the workforce type all of this out.
