Rockets, PJ Tucker reach agreement to part ways, likely via trade

PJ Tucker, his agent Andre Buck and Rockets GM Rafael Stone have mutually agreed that the veteran forward will no longer play for the franchise, according to Thursday’s postgame comments by head coach Stephen Silas. Tucker was a healthy scratch from the game, which Houston lost in Sacramento for its 14th straight defeat.

“We’re going to try to figure out something that works for him and works for us, as far as him not being on the team anymore,” Silas said postgame. “I was under the assumption that he was going to play tonight, and he didn’t play. That was disappointing.”

“He decided that he was just not really with it, and we decided that that’s a good idea,” Silas said of Tucker. “Let’s move on.”

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon, teams to have discussed Tucker trades with the Rockets include the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Miami Heat.

Now 35 years old, Tucker is in the final year of his existing contract, and he’s now seemingly a lock to be traded before the NBA’s March 25 deadline. With the Rockets (11-24) having lost 14 consecutive games, which is the longest skid for the franchise in more than 20 years, there’s little reason for them to take the risk of him leaving for no compensation in the offseason. Moreover, Tucker — who hasn’t won an NBA title in his career — likely wants to compete in the 2021 playoffs.

Tucker is still valued immensely for his defense and leadership, but his lack of production on offense has appeared to limit one of the league’s worst offenses. The 6-foot-5 forward is averaging 4.4 points (36.6% FG, 31.4% on 3-pointers), 4.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 30.0 minutes per game, with all of those numbers the worst of his four seasons in Houston. However, many around the NBA believe that his production could be revived if placed around better players and in a contending environment.

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According to ESPN, the Rockets believed they were close to signing Tucker to a two-year, $17-million contract extension earlier this season, with only $10 million guaranteed. However, Tucker’s camp reportedly countered by asking for a two-year deal worth $24 million, fully guaranteed. With Houston’s guarantee offer less than half of what Tucker sought, it’s understandable why the differences weren’t reconciled.

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