The Milwaukee Bucks remain in the thick of the P.J. Tucker sweepstakes that continue to heat up as we inch closer to the trade deadline.
Milwaukee’s interest has generated steam all the way back from their first link to the veteran forward from back in the offseason. Now as the Houston Rockets continue to slide this season and inch closer to the deadline, Tucker’s inevitable departure was made so by the fact that he is away from the team as they continue to find a potential deal for the 35-year-old.
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ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported that the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat have discussed possible deals in recent weeks, along with the Bucks.
With Tucker’s future guaranteed to be elsewhere, especially in light of recent events, the Bucks face stiff competition from rivals and title contenders aspiring to add a piece that can help them make a push towards a title.
So where do the Milwaukee Bucks stand in the race for P.J. Tucker, considering the depleted assets they have?
The Milwaukee Bucks are short on assets to compete for a P.J. Tucker trade.
It’s no secret the Bucks have their hands tied when it comes to trying to make a trade this season, much less one for Tucker.
Due to the many first round picks they have tied up due to trades such as George Hill and especially Jrue Holiday, the Bucks are limited to pick swaps for their first rounders this year and in 2023. That limits them to being able to deal away their second round picks in 2023, 2024 and 2027.
With such a limited chest of assets, there’s a reason why rival executives have viewed Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo as the most enticing asset the Bucks have to deal at this time.
And it’s DiVincenzo who is firmly in the middle of the standoff between the negotiations being had between the Bucks and the Rockets, especially as MacMahon and Wojnarowski note they want a young prospect in return for Tucker. While I laid out my objection to include DiVincenzo in such talks, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor discussed the permutations of a DiVincenzo-Tucker swap in the most recent episode of ‘The Mismatch podcast’ with Chris Vernon:
"“Would you trade Donte DiVincenzo for P.J. Tucker? That’s what Houston wants. They want a young player back. If Milwaukee gave DiVincenzo today, it’d be a done deal.”"
As the standoff continues, the perception that the Bucks will eventually add Tucker has been brewing around as Bleacher Report’s A. Sherrod Blakely reported on last week.
Time will tell if that’s the case, especially as other suitors have more to offer for what will likely be a two-to-three month rental, and as the Bucks are hard-capped, which limits how much money they can take in for a potential trade. To absorb Tucker’s salary, the Bucks would have to hit $6.32 million to acquire and without going over the apron.