Keep an eye out for unsung heroes. When you find them, sing their praises. The NBA has its share of unsung heroes, too. Some players don’t get the credit that they deserve.
Often, we’re talking about the league’s role players. Guys that put their bodies on the line every night to make hustle players. Defensive specialists. They may not get the same credit as the league’s stars, but make no mistake: some of these guys can be key to a contender. Just look at P.J. Tucker of the Philadelphia 76ers.
When the Milwaukee Bucks won their championship, Tucker was a key part of their run. Tucker was an even larger part of his team’s rotation when the Houston Rockets got close. The Sixers acquired him with hopes that he’d be key to their title run, too. Unfortunately, the team is beginning to look like it could shortly fall apart. Could they send Tucker to the Dallas Mavericks as a result?
The Trade Proposal
Philadelphia 76ers Receive: C RIchaun Holmes, 2024 Second-Round Pick (TOR via DAL), 2028 Second-Round Pick (MIA via DAL)
Dallas Mavericks Receive: F PJ Tucker
If the Sixers do fall apart, it will be a disappointment for their fans. They suffered a lot to get to this point. The Process wasn’t fun for anybody. It was supposed to pay off. Does a second-round exit count as a payoff?
Fans won’t think so. The Sixers tanked for years to assemble their current core. It wasn’t easy to watch. Philadelphia assembled some of the worst teams we’ve ever seen on an NBA floor. The goal was to lose – and the Sixers accomplished that goal. They lost a lot.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers & Dallas Mavericks Updates
During that time, the Sixers saw a lot of players come and go. Some of them have had successful NBA careers. Guys like Jerami Grant, Christian Wood, Robert Covington, TJ McConnell, and others were part of The Process. So was Richaun Holmes. Should the Sixers reunite with him?
Why The Philadelphia 76ers Do The Deal
This isn’t about reuniting with Holmes. Although, he could be a strong backup for Embiid. There was a time when Holmes was seen as a fringe starter. If he can return to his former level, he’s a solid rim protector who can finish pick and rolls with a soft touch around the rim.
If he can’t? That isn’t the point. The Sixers would likely be anticipating larger changes here. After all, James Harden has requested a trade. The Sixers don’t realistically have the assets to replace his production. We wouldn’t be surprised if a trade request from Joel Embiid followed. In that event, the Sixers could be rebuilding – again.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers & Dallas Mavericks Updates
They won’t get much more than this for Tucker. He’s nearing the end of his career, and last year, he started to show it. With that in mind, a pair of second-round picks is likely market value for the veteran forward. Should the Mavericks even give that much up?
Why The Dallas Mavericks Do The Deal
It depends on what the Mavericks envision for Holmes. This team has a logjam of borderline starting big men. They may opt for the more familiar Dwight Powell at the position. Meanwhile, if Derrick Lively III looks ready, the Mavericks could prefer to explore his upside by giving him the backup spot.
In other words, Holmes could be the odd man out. If so, flipping him for Tucker makes sense. In theory, Tucker is exactly the type of player that teams should surround an elite playmaker like Luka Doncic with. All he does is space the floor and defend aggressively. Tucker won’t be taking the ball out of Doncic’s hands.
NBA TRADES, NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Did his floor spacing disappear last year? You bet. That’s fine. Tucker would be backing up Grant Williams – and teaching him a lot in the process. In a way, Williams is just one more of the NBA’s unsung heroes.
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