2:31pm: Although the Knicks’ front office has its eye on Tucker, no trade discussions between the two teams have taken place at this point, reports John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link).
8:54am: As they continue attempting to address their defensive issues, the Knicks have identified a Suns wing player as a potential trade target. According to Ian Begley of ESPN.com, New York’s front office has been eyeing P.J. Tucker, labeling him as a player the team may pursue before this year’s trade deadline.
Tucker, 31, has played for Phoenix since returning from overseas in 2012, appearing in 356 games for the Suns over the last five seasons. Having averaged 30+ minutes per game in each of the last three seasons, Tucker has seen his playing time reduced a little this year (27.1 MPG) and is coming off the bench more often than he’s starting for the first time since his return to the NBA. In 36 games this season, he has recorded 6.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.3 SPG.
As our list of 2017 free agents by team shows, Tucker is the only Suns player currently on track for unrestricted free agency this summer. Unless the club is fairly confident he’ll be re-signed in July, it could make sense for Phoenix to gauge the market for him in the coming weeks and get an asset or two in return.
It’s not clear what the Knicks would give up if they put a formal offer on the table for Tucker. As Begley observes, the club has a few intriguing young players, like Willy Hernangomez, Kyle O’Quinn, and Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Draft picks could also be in play, though Begley notes that Phil Jackson and the Knicks’ front office were unwilling to part with future first-rounders last season.
Tucker is earning a fairly modest $5.3MM salary in 2016/17, so if the Knicks were to make a move for him, they’d only have to send out about $3.5MM to accommodate a deal under cap rules.
They’d be crazy to let any of those three go. Kuz is a great player, and Willy will get better and better the more he plays. Kyle is outplaying Noah at the moment too. If only they could do a straight Noah/Tucker swap!
PLEASE PHIL!
We are sick and tired of these over 30 year old players that have 0 upside. This years trade deadline could decide if i am a Cavs fan going forward.
Were you a heat fan for a few years?
Yeah and a Warrior fan last year
Oh so you jump from team to team chasing championships? Fair weather fan much? Thank God you aren’t a player, you would be LeBron…
I’d say more david west than anything
I think the only reason West has been jumping around is because he’s getting up there in age and wants a ring, who could blame him?
I agree 100%.
I don’t think anyone would have an issue being lebron james lol
Idk if I could handle all that money.
PJ tucker is a perfect example of what they need. That being said, phoenix won’t just give him away. I could see them wanting Hernangomez and possibly a 2nd round pick of some sort, at the least, even though Tucker is a free agent after the season. Don’t know if the knicks should do that. If they can add him without giving away a core piece, that would be helpful for them though
Phoenix will defiantly give him away at this point. He is a 30 year old verteran taking minutes that could be given to there 2 top 8 picks from last year. Honestly a second round pick or two pry gets it done.
I could see the Knicks getting rid of Noah for some small assets and using those plus willy to get Tucker. Then you can finally go small with tucker, anthony and Porzingis. Kyle and kuz off the bench. Still probably need a backup PF but that can be fixed later.
If the Knicks get rid of Noah, it will cost them assets (and probably not small ones). Horrible contract already (at least at this point).
Hernangomez would definitely do the trick. Problem is, that’s Porzingis’ homeboy from Sevilla. They don’t just fit well on the court, they go back a few years.
Kuzminskas ought to do it.
Love Tucker’s game. Hope he ends up on the Wolves
Knicks would be off the wall to trade the 3 players mentioned. Anyone see how great Kuz is playing tonigh. Quinn? Get rid of Noah!
No one wants Noah. You couldn’t give cash and Noah to a D league team right now.
Sad. But even wanting him is an admission that they screwed up giving Lance Thomas a long term deal for real money this past off-season. Backup SF, and PF in a smaller lineup, was supposed to be Thomas’ role. It’s also says they think Tucker is better than Kuz right now at least. With the defensive issues the team has that may be right. Nobody gives away anything of value (there are 28 other teams out there to make a market if need be). Knicks have two 2nd round picks this year (maybe both plus some expiring deals get it done, I doubt it).
The knicks acquiring players like PJ tucker is the way they have gotten to where they are now. older veterans with no upside. how about this – lets trade melo to the C’s for avery bradley and a 1st round pick??? lets trade lance thomas and something for nerlens noel? give me deals that coule make us good in the next couple years. as long as LBJ is in the east, we arent going anywhere anyway