2017TD

Suns’ P.J. Tucker Drawing Trade Interest

Michael Scotto details the latest on several teams’ pursuit of Suns swingman P.J. Tucker.

Alan Draper profile picture
Sports Editor
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Phoenix Suns swingman P.J. Tucker is drawing trade interest from the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz, league sources told Basketball Insiders.

The Minnesota Timberwolves also offered Shabazz Muhammad for Tucker earlier this season, as Basketball Insiders previously reported.

Tucker is on the books for $5.3 million this season and will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

While Tucker’s name has surfaced in trade talks with playoff contenders, he’s not opposed to remaining with the Suns long-term.

“Phoenix has been great to me,” Tucker told Basketball Insiders in a video interview a month ago. “I’ve been here five years. It’s been a great five years, somewhere I would love to be for a long time.”

Tucker has remained one of the league’s best on-the-ball defenders. Veteran teammate Jared Dudley has publicly praised Tucker’s defense and vouched for him to make the NBA’s All-Defensive Team.

Coach Earl Watson has also praised Tucker’s defense.

“The thing about defense is there’s no perfect technique,” Watson said before facing the Knicks at Madison Square Garden a month ago. “It’s all on intensity, passion, toughness and a lot of heart. He plays with that every time he touches the court. He’s one of our best players. To me, he’s the most underrated defender in our league, especially on isolations. I think our isolation defense kind of speaks for itself because of him.”

While he may not be one of the “sexy” names on the trade market, Tucker’s hounding defense and versatility are what teams desire, and why he’ll remain in the headlines with the NBA’s trade deadline looming on February 23 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Alan is an expert gambling writer who works as one of the chief editors for Basketball Insiders. He has been covering online gambling and sports betting for over 8 years, having written for the likes of Sportlens, Compare.bet, The Sports Daily, 90min, and TopRatedCasinos.co.uk. His particular specialisms include US online casinos and gambling regulations, and soccer and basketball betting. Based in London, Alan holds an MA in English Literature and is a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC.

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