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13-year vet's potential fit on Boston Celtics next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown deemed solid

A 13-year veteran who can hit the trade block soon was called a potentially solid fit on the Boston Celtics alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

By Andrew Hughes

Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics - Game Seven
Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics - Game Seven / Adam Glanzman/GettyImages
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NESN's Jason Ounpraseuth likes the idea of potential Boston Cetics trade target PJ Tucker alongside the team's top two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown; deeming the hypothetical fit as a "solid" one.

"It’s still early to determine who would be a buyout candidate, but P.J. Tucker reportedly is unhappy about his lack of minutes on the Los Angeles Clippers, and he’d be a solid fit around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown," Ounpraseuth wrote. "Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Al Horford are locked-in bench players in the rotation, but another consistent contributor could help put Boston over the top to better its chances of capturing an NBA title."

Tucker was linked to the Celtics on December 11, per The Athletic's Shams Charania.

"Forward P.J. Tucker has expressed frustration about his current situation with the team, and both sides are discussing ways to resolve a role for him there or elsewhere, according to league sources," Charania wrote.

"The 13-year NBA veteran has been a key, big-minute contributor in the last 12 years, but the 2021 NBA champion has been a DNP-CD in the last five games and has not played since Nov. 27 as coach Tyronn Lue moved rookie Kobe Brown into the rotation to infuse youth and athleticism."

PJ Tucker could take pressure off Boston Celtics stars and provide them breather on defense

Ever since his Houston Rockets stint as a four/small-ball five under Mike D'Antoni, Tucker's role has been anything but ambiguous: hit threes from either corner and defend as an on-ball defender to the opposing team's best post player or swarm opposing ball-handlers as a help-defender.

That exact role would be perfect for the C's second-unit, which has Sam Hauser hitting threes from all over the floor and playing solid on-ball defense but is far from reliable in pressure-cooker situations on that end. Tucker is battle-tested through his time in Houston and from his recent postseason runs with the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat; not to gloss over his championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.

Tucker could take pressure off of Brown and Tatum, and step up whenever, or if ever, Hauser goes through another shooting slump.

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