Christian Wood is a Rocket (UPDATE : Yes -- it's true)

My comments were only addressing your contention that Tucker will be worth the veteran’s minimum after the season, not whether the Rockets should trade him or not.

Right now, the Rockets aren’t going to trade Tucker until they’ve exhausted trying to patch up their relationship with Harden. If that fails and they decide to rebuild, then Tucker will likely be included with Harden in a trade.

Plus, I’d much rather get out of the 4 years, $75 million owed to Eric Gordon than trade Tucker on an expiring contract. Trading Gordon for a SF/PF or cap space to open up the MLE to be used on Baynes, Ibaka or Millsap should be Stone’s top priority.

 

Would be very hyped about this deal if the Rockets weren’t already an imploding dumpster fire

 

Gotcha. I agree that Gordon should be moved but that’s going to much more difficult. I just think the Rockets will try to get something for PJ’s expiring contract regardless of how things work out with Harden/Westbrook. Better to get something than nothing IMO. But idk what would make PJ happy. I doubt a 2yr/15m extension would do it for him. He’s probably looking for 2-3 years at 10m per and I doubt that’s palatable for Tillman.

 

Tuck knows his time is running out and wants to get paid one last time. He will unfortunately be broke within 5 years of leaving the NBA cuz' dem shoes ain't cheap.

 

Exactly, which is why you trade Tucker now. While he's still more than capable of doing everything you just said. As good as he's been, they wouldn't negotiate a new contract for him. Hence why he wants out TOO. So Rocket fans are going to have to get over all the incredible things he does on the defensive end. It's time to move on and get enough value back as they can.

 

Than there is no point in trading him if we are contending now.

 

I'm always skeptical when you base a contract on a twenty game stretch at the end of a season for a bottom dweller in meaningless games.

 

Im advocating trading PJ bc of his age and contract situation, not bc he doesn’t help the team.

 

If you are trying to get Harden on board, you do no trade him.

 

There is no evidence that he wants out. Gosh, I really hate the way you talk about a dude's who's the heart and soul of this team.

 

Would trade EGo first.

PJ should not be a 30 min player but his role on team very underrated especially with loss of RoCo.

PJ is the defensive leader, no one communicates like he does. He will help Wood become a better defender.

 

I have never seen such a Shoe Addict than P.J Tucker.

Kids are barefoot in Third World Countries.

P.J Tucker owning Millions of Shoes.

These Athletes being Overpaid Millionaires. SMH

 

Agree that losing RoCo makes PJ more important on defense.

But, if they keep PJ until the end of the year and don’t extend him, then what do they do with him? Allow him to test the market to show him what his $ value is and risk losing him for nothing? Even if he resigns with the Rockets after testing the market do you think he won’t hold a grudge for not getting the extension he wanted?

 

Would not let him go unless Godfather offer is made.

He is on a GREAT salary and he is a positive value asset.

EGo is the priority because his role is not as essential as PJ's and his larger salary creates more flexibility for the Rockets.

 

Hopefully Nwaba becomes a Tucker Replacement.

Nwaba is Built like Lou Dort. Huge Man.

He literally is a Harden Stopper.

 

I mean there are a lot of stats to look at player impact, none of which are perfect.

But PJ Tucker was one of our worse BPM players in the playoffs last year. He was 8th in WS/48. He was 11th on the team in playoff PER.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2020.html#all_playoffs_advanced

Harden and Covington were good. Everyone else was meh, or bad in BPM. All the more reason the Covington trade was a headscratcher to begin with. I absolutely would do the trade again given the ultimate outcome with Wood, but I would have much rather have given them PJ Tucker to get the same outcome.

 

I like Nwaba too, but hes not replacing Tucker's leadership.

 

It's too bad we couldn't have given them EGo.

 

Tucker's relationship with Harden is probably a factor there. I think his stats will improve as a 4 as opposed to a 5 too.