Getty Jon Horst, Adrian Griffin
With the Milwaukee Bucks vying for their second NBA title in four years, it comes as no surprise that Milwaukee (23-8, one game behind the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics) would be looking for help. On December 25, NBA writer Marc Stein reported that they still admire P.J. Tucker, with whom they won the title in 2021.
“The Bucks and the Heat are two Eastern Conference title contenders that A) are both playing on this Christmas and B) still maintain a healthy level of admiration, league sources say, for the Clippers’ out-of-favor P.J. Tucker,” Stein wrote on Substack.
Tucker has familiarity with many of the Bucks’ core players. However, Stein explained why their potential interest in bringing him back is, as he puts it, “not nearly that simple.”
“Tucker, one of the league’s four current 38-year-olds until LeBron James turns 39 on Saturday, has no current role with the Clippers after Philadelphia folded Tucker’s salary into the [James] Harden trade. Tucker, though, is earning $11 million this season and has one more guaranteed season in that same financial ballpark, which obviously complicates his trade market.”
The Bucks could acquire Tucker’s deal — which includes an $11.5 million player option for 2024-25 — using primarily the likes of Bobby Portis or Pat Connaughton to make a trade work. However, with Tucker being in the Clippers’ doghouse, there’s not much need to trade rotation players for someone who’s not only expensive, but also not playing.
P.J. Tucker Believes He Can Still Play
PJ Tucker told ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly that, despite not being in the Clippers’ rotation, he believes he can still play.
“I don’t have a role on this team right now,” Tucker said in a December 11 story. “I’m out of the lineup. It was a decision that was made, and I’m living with it right now. But obviously, I feel like I still got a lot to contribute to a team to be able to win, whether that’s here or somewhere else. And here, it’s just not there right now. So I want to do what I can do.”
Tucker said his priorities were winning and playing.
“It’s both,” Tucker told Azarly. “I think it’s kind of prioritized together at the same time and playing a role. And when you know, you can play that role and have played that role on championship-level teams, not just winning championships, but teams that have a chance to win a championship over the last seven years, eight years.”
Tucker has made a name for himself as a valued rotation player on multiple playoff teams. At 38, he may not be as agile as he once was, but at the very least, he brings title experience.
Multiple Teams ‘Monitoring’ P.J. Tucker: Report
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Tucker’s frustration with the Clippers and that multiple contenders were keeping their eyes peeled on the situation.
“Multiple contending teams are monitoring the Tucker situation in LA. For the season, Tucker, 38, has averaged 1.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. He is earning $11 million this season and has a player option worth $11.5 million for the 2024-25 season,” Charania wrote in a December 11 story.
Charania didn’t mention the Bucks as a Tucker suitor.