Getty P.J. Tucker #17 of the Miami Heat reacts on the floor.
The Philadelphia 76ers have officially made their first move of free agency. After weeks of rumored interest, P.J. Tucker is on his way to Philly to reunite with James Harden and Daryl Morey.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the veteran forward has agreed to a three-year $33.2 million contract that is fully guaranteed. Tucker last played for the Miami Heat, where he posted averages of 7.6 PPG and 5.5 RPG while shooting 41.5% from beyond the arc.
Wing depth is a top priority for the Sixers, and the addition of Tucker will greatly help in that department. Despite being 37 years old, the veteran forward has proven to still be a tough, hard-nosed defender.
Along with defense and outside shooting, Tucker also brings playoff and championship experience to the Sixers. With Danny Green no longer on the roster, adding another respectable vet was crucial for a team looking to fulfill its championship aspirations.
Sixers Make Pair of Signings Following P.J. Tucker
Morey was not finished after securing Tucker. Amid the free-agent frenzy, the Sixers went on to make two more signings. The first is three-and-D wing Danuel House Jr., followed by guard Trevelin Queen.
Similar to Tucker, House Jr. also spent some time with the Houston Rockets. He played a total of 154 games with the franchise between 2018 and 2021. House Jr. most recently played for the Utah Jazz, where he averaged 6.8 PPG while converting 41.5% of his threes.
Trevelin Queen was also a member of the Rockets organization but spent most of his time in the G-League. During his time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers this year, he averaged 25.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 5.2 APG. Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice reported Queen’s deal is expected to be non-guaranteed with a partial guarantee this upcoming season.
Joel Embiid Wants Sixers to Pursue Kevin Durant
In the final hours before free agency kicked off, news emerged that turned the NBA landscape on its side. Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kevin Durant has formally requested a trade. The former MVP has four years left on his contract and is fresh off averaging 29.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 6.4 APG.
Sixers fans have already voiced their thoughts on possibly acquiring Durant, and now Joel Embiid has chimed in. Jason Dumas of Bleacher Report reported the All-Star center informed the team he wants them to try everything in their power to pair Durant alongside himself and James Harden.
Durant has listed the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat as his top landing spots, but nothing should be ruled out at this early stage. If the Sixers were to put together an offer, it would likely involve Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, and Matisse Thybulle, along with draft compensation.
Per Action Network, the Sixers have the sixth-best betting odds of being Durant’s next team at +1200. The top three favorites are Phoenix (+100), Miami (+125), and the Dallas Mavericks (+400).
During his career as an executive, Morey has never shied away from making a seismic trade. He secured James Harden at the trade deadline last year and has the chance to add another mega-deal to his resume. Like most of the league, Morey is sure to do his due diligence regarding Durant.