Boston Celtics Rumors: Team Has ‘Deep Interest’ in Swingman P.J. Tucker
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, the Boston Celtics have shown interest in trading for Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker.
He is not Paul George, Jimmy Butler or a big man, but Phoenix Suns versatile forward P.J. Tucker has something the Boston Celtics want: versatility.
According to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, the Celtics not only have interest in Tucker, they have “deep interest” and the team wouldn’t have to part with many of their assets to get him.
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At the age of 31, Tucker would not only add another veteran presence, his shooting, rebounding and physical defensive presence would make the Celtics a deeper team at the position.
This season, he is averaging 7.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and is in the final year of his contract, which he is earning $5.3 million per season.
On a team that is struggling this season and looking to build for the future, a veteran like Tucker will probably be on the move at the trade deadline. If not the Celtics, then another team in the midst of a playoff run.
Not many of those teams have the type of assets the Suns are looking for. Tucker should only cost the team one of their many second-round picks or a protected future first-round pick. The Boston Celtics also have a couple of young players like James Young and Jordan Mickey who aren’t getting much playing time in Boston.
Both of those players could have the opportunity to emerge in Phoenix, while a player like P.J. Tucker would give the Celtics an opportunity to make a deep playoff run.
If Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge makes the deal, he would be acquiring a nice piece to the puzzle. But the main piece could still come in a blockbuster deal for one of the superstars the team has been linked to or a star player no one seen coming.
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