PJ Tucker is staying away from the Los Angeles Clippers to start the season. The Clippers tried to find a trade for the veteran forward at the trade deadline last February and again during the offseason, but couldn’t find a deal they liked.
Now the Clippers are giving his agent a chance to find one, reports Chris Haynes.
Sources: Los Angeles Clippers have given permission for PJ Tucker’s agent, Andre Buck, to speak with other teams to facilitate working on a trade. Both sides continue to work together as the veteran stays away from the team, waiting for an opportunity to contribute to the win. pic.twitter.com/RUqXeOgOLE
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 24, 2024
Four teams with playoff aspirations — and all that Tucker has previously played for — have some interest, The Athletic’s Kelly Iko and Law Murray report. They are Philadelphia, Miami, Milwaukee and Phoenix.
A number of contenders — including the 76ers, Heat, Bucks and Suns — have held trade talks with P.J. Tucker’s representation, sources told myself and @LawMurrayTheNU. The 14-year veteran remains away from the team, hopeful for a solution.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 25, 2024
“We have had ongoing conversations with P.J. throughout the offseason and have both decided that he will not be with the team for the time being,” the Clippers said during training camp, announcing Tucker would be away from the team. “PJ is a professional who has achieved a lot in his career and he wants to achieve even more. We will continue to work with PJ and his representative to find the best situation for him in the future.”
There are currently two challenges to making a Tucker transaction. The first is that teams want to see what they have with their roster this early in the season before trading for role players. There is no urgency on their part.
The second, more challenging issue is that Tucker, 39, is making $11.5 million this season (in the final year of his contract), and the playoff/contending teams he wants to go to are limited by hard caps and salary requirements associated with luxury. suspend taxes. The Clippers also have a hard cap at the first platform and are about $600,000 under that number, so they can’t take more money in a trade. Any deal will have to be almost exactly dollar-for-dollar, and that’s difficult to put together.
Now Tucker’s agent can at least start looking for those deals. The question is whether anyone is there.
