Another veteran mainstay of the Houston Rockets in P.J. Tucker now finds himself in a shaky situation. Many teams are anticipating that the Rockets will opt to ship their veterans after the blockbuster trade which saw James Harden go to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Rockets reportedly offered an extension for Tucker but he has yet to put pen to paper on his new contract. His status in Houston remains up in the air as several teams continue to inquire about securing the services of the veteran forward in the early stages of the season.
Via Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic:
“Sources say Tucker is prepared to play for Houston for the season even without his future tied down, but he is not opposed to a trade should one materialize. It’s understood that an extension offer is on the table at this point, but Tucker has not accepted it. Teams have already made a number of phone calls to Houston about potentially acquiring Tucker.”
“Multiple teams have called about Tucker’s availability in wake of Harden’s departure. As far as an extension in Houston is concerned, sources say Tucker has tabled those discussions for now.”
Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reports the Rockets are looking for three second-round picks for Tucker, who joined Houston back in 2017 and has been an integral piece of the team since then. He complemented Harden's ball-dominant style of play and often served as the undersized four or five in the small-ball offense. Last season, he averaged norms of 6.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks through 72 games played last season.
The 35-year-old previously signed a four-year, $32 million deal with the Rockets in his first year with the team back in the 2017-2018 season. He is currently playing in the final season of his contract and is set to be an unrestricted free agent in the upcoming offseason.
Tucker's veteran presence and rebounding prowess will definitely be of good use for many teams in the league, especially now that his time in Houston is potentially nearing its end.
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