There have been many transactions since the 2023-24 NBA season came to a close with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Finals. There’s one that may stand out as being the most obvious one that would occur. That is P.J. Tucker opting in to his $11.5 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers for 2024-25.
The Clippers likely would have loved if he didn’t, but they had to know it was a foregone conclusion he would. Law Murray of The Athletic has reported that the Clippers will try to trade Tucker or waive him using the stretch provision.
PJ Tucker has most likely played his last game as a Clipper, per @LawMurrayTheNU
“While Tucker opted into the final year of a deal that will pay him $11 million in a season when he will turn 40, the Clippers are expected to part ways with him this offseason, either via a trade… pic.twitter.com/zLkpoa6U9t
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 2, 2024
Former NBA Champion To Be Traded Or Waived By Clippers?
P.J. Tucker Was Barely Utilized By Clippers Last Season
From November 29, 2023 until February 22, 2024, the 39-year-old Tucker didn’t appear in a single game for Los Angeles. Tucker made it clear that he wanted to move to another team via trade or even a buyout. The Clippers never acquiesced, and Tucker was fined $75,000 for his public trade request. Tucker didn’t play in the first four games of their first round playoff loss to the Dallas Mavericks before totaling 30 minutes in Games 5 and 6.
The 6’5″ Tucker was acquired by the Clippers in a three-team deal that also brought James Harden to the team from the Philadelphia 76ers. In 28 regular season games with the Clippers, Tucker averaged 1.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.0 minutes.
Prior Championship Experience With Bucks
While Tucker’s NBA career is close to over regardless of if he plays next season, he can hold his head up high about his playing career. Tucker was taken way back in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors with the 35th pick.
After playing just 17 games for Toronto his rookie season, Tucker spent the next five seasons playing overseas. He was part of championship winning teams in Israel in 2008 and Germany in 2012. He also played professionally in that time for teams in Ukraine, Greece, and Italy.
Tucker returned to the NBA in 2012-13 with the Phoenix Suns. He would play parts of five seasons with them before being traded to the Raptors. He has also played for the Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat prior to the 76ers and Clippers.
Prior to the 2021 trade deadline, Houston traded Tucker to the Bucks. Come playoff time, Tucker was inserted into Milwaukee’s starting lineup. He started each of the Bucks last 19 playoff games starting with the second round. Milwaukee defeated the Suns in six games in the 2021 NBA Finals securing the team’s first championship since 1971.
All in all, Tucker has played 13 seasons in the NBA. He has appeared in 883 regular season games (666 starts) and owns per game averages of 6.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.1 steals. His career-high average of 9.4 points came in 2013-14 with the Suns.
