Entering the tumultuous waters of the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers made headlines due to their longstanding player, P.J. Tucker’s disgruntlement.
The veteran Forward/Center (F/C) has voiced his discontent with the current milieu at the squad.
Prior to the trade deadline, Tucker implored the Clippers to trade him off. He is underutilized this season and is of the belief that he still has plenty of basketball left in him to contribute to a more ambitious team.
Despite Tucker’s plea, no deal was reached for his trade. The reasons behind this remain undisclosed.
Expectedly, the situation has not gone unnoticed by the Clippers’ coach, Tyronn Lue. Adopting a light-hearted approach, Lue quipped about Tucker’s age, referring to him as a “70-year-old” who could simply walk off into retirement yet is adamant about playing.
“When you've got guys like PJ, who have another year left on his deal, he can ride off into the sunset, he's 70 years old. But he wants to play, he wants to compete. And so you understand that you want guys like that.”
– Ty Lue on PJ Tucker pic.twitter.com/7KsrnhXx9f
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 15, 2024
Tucker, the erstwhile NBA Champion, finds himself in an unwelcome spot. He’s been shelved from the rotation, a stark contrast to the key player he was.
Indeed, teams typically grant the wishes of their veteran players, respecting their position and valuing the collaborative energy within the locker room.
Currently, Tucker is caught in a quandary. He hasn’t been waived, and a trade deal is off the board.
The only visible escape route from this impasse for Tucker is accepting a buyout, a move bound to take a toll on his hard-earned salary.
