Boston Celtics are one possible contender Shams linked PJ Tucker to
By Matt John
The Boston Celtics could use more depth in their frontcourt and some championship experience to boot. It appears an opportunity could be on their hands to get just that since P.J. Tucker and the Clippers could be on the outs, per The Athetic'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."
Whether it's with the Clippers or with someone else, this could very well end with Tucker getting waived, even if he has another year left on his contract. Charania added that contenders are monitoring the situation.
"Multiple contending teams are monitoring the Tucker situation in LA. For the season, Tucker, 38, has averaged 1.3 points and 2.9 rebounds. He is earning $11 million this season and has a player option worth $11.5 million for the 2024-25 season."
Given the Celtics' aspirations, it wouldn't be hard to deduce that they are among the teams that are keeping their eye on Tucker. Tucker is no longer the player he once was, but he gives the Celtics both playoff experience and experience playing with Jrue Holiday since they played together for the 2021 title-winning Milwaukee Bucks.
PJ Tucker's value is diminished, but he would bring something to the Boston Celtics
The Celtics went on a wing shopping spree this summer, adding Jordan Walsh, Oshae Brissett, Dalano Banton, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Lamar Stevens. While Walsh was always going to be a developmental project, none of the other mentioned wings have worked out well thus far. Tucker can't defend wings anymore, and the Clippers don't trust him because he brings very little offensively these days, but he fits as a small-ball wing who would hypothetically work as a Giannis stopper.
The Celtics aren't desperate for someone like Tucker. Their chemistry and rotations have been so on point this season that they've persevered through Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday's injuries, along with Jayson Tatum's and Jaylen Brown's ejections. The fact that Tucker will likely either be waived or traded in a contract dump (and then waived) shows how little value he has.
However, diminished value and no value are not synonymous for a reason, and for what little Tucker brings, it would be something worth adding to the Celtics' roster.