2:00pm: Tucker’s second 10-day deal is now official, the Knicks confirmed in a press release (Twitter link).
10:22am: Veteran forward P.J. Tucker is signing a second 10-day contract with the Knicks, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post reports (via Twitter).
Tucker made his season debut on Wednesday with a two-minute cameo in a loss to San Antonio. He signed his initial 10-day contract with the anticipation that the Knicks would retain him for the remainder of the season. Another 10-day deal doesn’t guarantee that — he’ll have to be signed to a standard contract after this 10-day deal expires to attain that goal.
Tucker started off with the Clippers after picking up his $11.54MM player option over the summer. An agreement was reached in early October that he would remain away from the team while his agent worked with the front office to find a trade.
Nothing materialized until February 1 when the 39-year-old forward was sent to Utah as part of a four-player deal. He was traded again five days later, being shipped to Toronto as part of the five-team Jimmy Butler deal. He remained inactive with the Raptors until he was waived February 28.
Tucker will earn $189,872 over the course of his 10-day deal, while the Knicks carry a cap hit of $119,972. No roster move is necessary, as he’ll continue to hold the 15th spot on New York’s standard roster.
PJ been spent for a few years. Knicks grasping for straws here
Not to be antagonizing but do you follow or watch the Knicks, or basketball? Thibs runs a tight rotation, so Tucker is rarely going to play. This is about getting a vet on the bench. Someone who provides leadership and glue to the team. He goes all out in practice and brings intangibles to the squad that a younger, less experienced player would. Also, he will be the first guy on that bench to defend his team.
Yeah, Tucker is a great leader. Just ask the last two teams he walked out on.
Can you blame him?
No.
I’m not blaming him for lacking leadership skills.
Just pointing out he doesn’t have them.
I want some of what you’re smoking. I follow basketball and the Knicks, and if you are acting like they need a cancer like this at the end of the bench for that veteran team you are mistaken. I get Thibs has super tight rotations and Tucker prob won’t see the court, but this dude hasn’t been a plus in the locker room since at least 2021 in Milwaukee.
Debo382 is right. Veterans are important and the Knicks don’t have to many other than Cam P so this is important plus his championship experience
they should sign him for the rest of the season, nothing wrong with having a vet leader on your team. also him getting 5-6 mins here and there doesn’t hurt either.
A guy with a long and successful career, a solid add, a good influence. Yes, sign him for the rest of the year and if/when you need him you’d be hard pressed to have a better guy for a dirty job.
Another 10 days, it’s him or Warren, for the 15th spot, and I think they’ve concluded they’re more likely to need situation defense than offense. I can’t argue with that. FWIW, I haven’t seen either of these guys look NBA capable for a couple of years.
Experience is always a plus on a playoff team. Seems Tucker is here just in case you need an extra big (Insurance). Player I’m waiting for is TJ Warren.
No doubt it’s insurance. But if Warren replaces Tucker as the 15th man, he’ll likely be little more than insurance as well. If they thought Warren could break the rotation, he’d have been signed by now.
I think it has to do with cap. He should be signed at last min. To have him on team for playoffs. We can’t add scoring any other way. And he’s keeping in game shape playing in G-league.
They can sign him at the last minute cap-wise, but still need to open a roster spot, so either Wright or Tucker would need to be released.
Well that’s not an issue. 12-15 isn’t playing in playoffs. TJ will. Only reason he is still around. Come playoffs he has to be oart of rotation.
Missing piece for a 2nd rd exit
Another loss anither night with ko bench scoring.
Knicks bench – 11 pts …
Hornets bench – 37 pts ….
TJ Warren is the only one. Only one who can help now.