PJ Tucker was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers to the Los Angeles Clippers in the James Harden trade. Tucker, who is close friends with Harden, was surprised the Sixers sent him to the Clippers with The Beard.
“I wasn’t expecting to get traded, so I didn’t know. It kind of came out of nowhere,” Tucker said, via The New York Post. “And from what I know, he (Joel Embiid) didn’t know either. But you never know with this stuff, man. It’s the NBA. You never know.”
Tucker is averaging just 1.6 points in five games with the Sixers and Clippers this season. The veteran, who won the 2021 championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, believes LAC has what it takes to win it all.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
“I don’t want to play if I’m not playing for a team that has a chance to win it,” Tucker said. “Eighteen years, if I’m not chasing that then I can’t play. There’s no point. And this team definitely has a chance. You look at our personnel. I don’t know how many teams that have it on paper like we do.”
The Clippers are 1-2 since the Harden-Tucker trade. Harden requested a trade from the Sixers in June and called Daryl Morey a “liar” during his Adidas tour in China. Unlike Harden, Tucker didn’t want to leave Philadelphia.
“James’ situation had nothing to do with me,” Tucker said. “As much as I get thrown in it, I’m kind of a casualty in that sense.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: PJ Tucker, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Tucker signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Sixers in July 2022. He’s making $11 million this season. Tucker has a player option worth $11.5 million for next season. He will probably pick it up and remain with the Clippers since his value on the open market wouldn’t be higher than the salary he’s owed.
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