Milwaukee Bucks: Checking in on previously rumored trade targets
By Dalton Sell
Checking in on previously rumored Milwaukee Bucks’ trade targets — P.J. Tucker
The Bucks were reportedly pursuing a pair of Houston Rockets from the offseason in both Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker.
Amidst the hectic offseason full of roster changes for the Rockets, Covington was traded away to the Portland Trail Blazers, but Tucker stayed put. This was odd considering Tucker was not shy about voicing his frustration with the front office this offseason as he searched for a new contract. However, it appears that the clock might be ticking on his remaining time with the franchise.
According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, the Rockets could be open to moving Tucker ahead of the March 25 deadline. The veteran forward will be a hot commodity on the trade market, given his outstanding defensive efforts along with his floor spacing capabilities. Furthermore, Tucker is on the books for just this season with an expiring $7.9 million salary and that value could be enticing for a lot of teams, including Milwaukee.
However, for the immediate lift Tucker would bring to a Bucks team that needs the defensive toughness and versatility the 35-year-old specializes in, the Bucks’ financial outlook severely hamstrings them into making a deal cleanly as we explored last month.
Tucker clearly would be a solid trade target, the kind of which the Bucks’ rivals might jump at the chance to acquire him. The Bucks will still have their eye on him in the event he might become a buyout candidate, but trading for him is quite the challenge at this stage.