The Clippers and P.J. Tucker have mutually agreed that the veteran forward will remain away from the team indefinitely, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape (via Twitter), L.A. is working with Tucker’s agent to try find a new situation for the former NBA champ.
“We’ve had ongoing conversations with P.J. throughout the offseason and have both decided that he won’t be with the team for the time being,” the Clippers said in a statement, first shared by Spears. “P.J. is a pro who has achieved a lot in his career and there’s more he wants to accomplish. We will continue working with P.J. and his representative to find the best situation for him moving forward.”
It sounds like the two sides will try to find a trade involving Tucker’s expiring $11.54MM contract, but given his recent production, a buyout may be the inevitable outcome.
As Law Murray of The Athletic notes (via Twitter), Tucker – who was a healthy scratch during the Clippers’ Saturday preseason bout against the Warriors – was the lone L.A. player to not attend the team’s media day festivities last Monday.
The 6’5″ combo forward had an effective run as a venerated three-and-D role player on playoff teams in Houston, Miami and Milwaukee. Tucker won his lone NBA championship to date as a member of the Bucks in 2021 — a trade deadline addition that year, he came off the bench down the stretch for Milwaukee, then was elevated to the starting lineup during the team’s postseason title run.
The Texas alum was traded to the Clippers from the Sixers early in the 2023/24 season as part of the deal that also landed James Harden in Los Angeles. Tucker subsequently had his least productive season since his rookie year in 2006/07, serving as a fringe rotation player in L.A. and appearing in just 28 games for the team, including none for nearly three months from late November to late February.
Tucker spent some time away from the Clippers last season after word broke that he was unhappy with his situation in L.A. He was fined by the NBA in February for publicly expressing a desire to be traded. While there was a sense after he exercised his player option for 2024/25 in June that the Clippers might part ways with Tucker over the offseason, reporting in August indicated he was likely to open the season with the team.
Tucker, 39, averaged a career-worst 1.7 points per game in 31 total appearances for the Sixers and Clippers, adding 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists, and 0.5 steals in 15.7 minutes per contest. However, as a deep-bench piece on a more favorable contract, the aging pro could still add value to a contending franchise as a versatile frontcourt defender.
Even during his most prolific offensive season, 2013/14 with the Suns, Tucker averaged a fairly modest 9.4 points on .431/.387/.776 shooting, along with 6.5 boards, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He finished 12th in Defensive Player of the Year voting that season.
I called this 2 years ago when he signed the contract…. he shoulda stayed in Miami
Tucker to Lakers for Vincent
Who says no?
Lakers. Immediately.
I don’t like the lakers but why in the world would they do that lol
Good rule of thumb: if Sillivan proposes a trade, it’s asinine
He needs that 11.5 million to keep up the sneaker game he’s got.
dude drives a 300k car… and drives it like an idiot lol.. I saw him leaving a Heat game a few years ago… that’s where his money goes
what’s the deal with him? is he unhappy with his role and wanting out?
He has no role. That’s the problem. He’s probably just washed, but he wants another shot, and there’s no role for him in LA.
Paid millions to be 38 years old and stay home…what a life!!
I don’t understand this from PJ. Did he not learn anything from the Crowder situation? Staying away from basketball at this age he’s going to lose any chance that he may have had to even stay in the NBA beyond this year. Just practicing with NBA guys can keep your game at an NBA-level still. If he’s out hooping in open gym with even G-leaguers he’s not going to have it anymore. I understand he’s upset he isn’t playing in games anymore, but I’d rather be practicing with an NBA team and mentoring young guys than just never being around the game anymore. Plus he could turn than into a few more years of minimum deals like a Haslem or Patty Mills.
11 mil a season you will never see again. You better fight for it