PJ Tucker has become a symbolic part of the Houston Rockets' 3-and-D mantra as a rugged defender who can knock down the open shot. Yet his long-term future with Houston could be in play sooner than later, as both Tucker and the team would like him to stick around.

The 2019-20 season is the last one that will be fully guaranteed on his four-year, $32 million deal, which he originally signed in 2016. The 2020-21 season is only partially guaranteed, which has kicked in Tucker's sense of urgency:

“It’s now,” he said of getting a new deal done, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “It’s time for my extension right now, so we’ll see. We’ll see what happens. I’m optimistic, we’ll see.”

Tucker's participation in Team USA training camp may just boost his value a little bit, considering other teams will be eyeing what he's able to do for a franchise other than the Rockets, making him all the more succulent to teams looking to add a capable veteran defender.

It was Tucker who stepped up this past season after Trevor Ariza was lost in free agency, taking the role of primary defender and corner spot shooter — a role that belonged to Ariza before he signed with the Phoenix Suns and was consequently traded to the Washington Wizards.

Houston hasn't managed re-signing personnel with the grace in recent years, as they failed to do so with Ariza, Clint Capela's extension took nearly a month to hammer out, and their recent talks with coach Mike D'Antoni went haywire after only one meeting,