Subscribe
Follow Us
After months of brooding in the Houston Rockets bench, embattled forward PJ Tucker finally got his wish to be traded to a contender on Wednesday. The Milwaukee Bucks acquired the 35-year-old defensive specialist alongside Rodions Kurucs and a 2022 first-round pick in exchange for DJ Augustin, DJ Wilson and a 2023 unprotected first-round pick.
The Rockets certainly milked all the value they can get for the sought-after Tucker, even getting rights to swap its 2021 second-round pick for Milwaukee's own first-rounder as long as it falls to the 10th pick or below.
Let’s get one thing straight. P.J. Tucker is NOT an absolute game-changer who guarantees the Bucks the title in the 2020-21 season. He has been a journeyman for most of his professional career which started overseas before becoming a solid role player for H-Town over the last four seasons. Truth be told, there are a lot of bigger-name players on the trade block this season.
Still, it’s pretty evident that Milwaukee became an even better team by winning the Tucker sweepstakes before the 2021 NBA Trade Deadline next week.
Tucker has sat out the Rockets’ last five contests but has been notching mediocre numbers of just 4.4 points on 36.6 percent shooting from the field, along with 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 32 games this season.
The Bucks, on the other hand, has brushed off a tough stretch last month and have won their last five outings. They currently hold third place in the much-improved Eastern Conference with a 26-14 slate following a statement overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to play at an MVP-level and is looking to avoid painful playoff disappointments they endured over the last two seasons. Milwaukee has re-tooled nicely in the offseason, and the addition of Tucker is indeed a great development for the Mike Budenholzer-mentored team.
With that in mind, let’s review three reasons why PJ Tucker strengthens the Bucks’ chances to finally emerge out of the Eastern Conference this season.
PJ Tucker gives the Bucks another floor spacer
The Bucks have kept up with the times and have become a more potent 3-point shooting team over the years, and they are currently fourth in the league in 3-point percentage, draining 39 percent of their triples as a team.
While Tucker is not exactly a marksman with a career average of 35.9 percent shooting from downtown, he has become a dependable option from long range as a capable stretch forward. He can be lethal when left wide open especially with his preferred corner treys.
Tucker is figuring in a down year shooting from deep this season, making just 31.4 percent of his attempts, but there's no doubt he will get easier looks with the defense keyed in on the Greek Freak.
The Bucks have unselfish playmakers like Jrue Holiday who will have a field day locating an open Tucker from past the arc.
Article Continues Below
A proven defensive anchor
Another big reason for the Bucks’ success in recent seasons is their formidable team defense bannered by reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While the two-time MVP is capable of locking the best players in the league today, adding another defensive-minded player like Tucker eases up Giannis’ load a bit.
The Bucks’ second-unit is in need of a vocal defensive leader since they had to give up guys like DJ Wilson in the Tucker trade and Torrey Craig in a separate deal with the Phoenix Suns.
While Tucker is older, he is still a proven defender who can match up against the opposing team’s best wing player. Although often dwarfed by bigger forwards and centers, Tucker has also shown the ability to bang with the giants–something that should allow Milwaukee to play small ball if they want to.
PJ Tucker is playoff-tested
After not making the postseason in his early years with the Suns, Tucker became a vital part of the Rockets’ playoff success throughout his tenure in Clutch City.
The one-time German League Champion and Finals MVP is not the type of player who stuffs the stat sheet on most nights, but he usually ups his averages across the board come playoff time. In fact, he enjoyed his best statistical year in the 2019 playoffs, norming 11.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 11 games for the Rockets, all the while shooting above 35 percent from the field and 3-point territory and a career-best 82.6 percent clip from the charity stripe.
The self-confessed sneakerhead will no doubt bring a lot more to the table in Wisconsin apart from his vast shoe collection. There’s a reason why Tucker was a wanted man among contenders this season, and the Bucks certainly got a good one.
