PJ Tucker didn’t expect to return to the Houston Rockets; frustrated at not being traded, sources say

Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker decided not to play Thursday night and is unlikely to return to the squad, coach Stephen Silas said.

Tucker is growing frustrated that he has not yet transferred to a contender and has made it clear that he would prefer to be absent from matches until the front office finds a deal for him before the March 25 deadline. sources told ESPN.

“We’re going to try to find something that works for him and that works for us as long as he’s not on the squad anymore,” Silas said after the Rockets’ 125-105 loss to the Sacramento Kings, which extended that of Houston. defeats in 14 games. “I was under the assumption that he was going to play tonight, and he didn’t play. It was disappointing, but it’s no secret it’s been a tough year.”

The Rockets have had several concurrent trade talks with teams in recent weeks involving Tucker, talks that are expected to result in a deal for Tucker before the March 25 deadline, sources said.

The Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams that have discussed possible deals with the Rockets in recent weeks, sources said.

So far, the Rockets’ preference for a productive rotational young player in trade negotiations has been a sticking point with the teams, who have not been willing to part with this sort of asset for a player of. 35 years old with an expiring contract. , sources said.

Tucker traveled with the Rockets to Sacramento and warmed up before the game, but he did not lend himself to join the team on the bench. He was not on the injury report.

“He decided he just didn’t really agree, and we decided it was a good idea,” said Silas, adding that Tucker would return to Houston instead of staying on the Rockets road. . “Let’s move on.”

Tucker, 35, has been instrumental in his 3.5 years with the Rockets, contributing far more than his 6.5-point, 5.8-rebound-per-game average would indicate. He has often defended the opponent’s top scorer – playing center when he was just 6.55 in Houston’s short-lived smallball experience last season – and served primarily as a 3-point corner threat that spaced the ground offensively.

Tucker is in the final season of a four-year, $ 32 million deal. The Rockets didn’t guarantee the final year of the deal until February 2020.

Tucker, who played 267 straight games until a bruised thigh held him on the sidelines for two games in February, turned up late for training camp in the fall and admitted he didn’t felt unappreciated after the failed talks on a contract extension.

The Rockets believed they were close to signing Tucker for a two-year extension for $ 17 million with $ 10 million guaranteed, sources said, but the Houston front office hesitated after Tucker’s side countered with a proposal for a fully guaranteed two-year deal valued at $ 24 million. .

Tucker has struggled this season amid the Rockets roster reshuffle after the Russell Westbrook and James Harden trades, posting career lows in points per game (4.4), field goal percentage (36 , 6%) and percentage of 3 points (31.4%).

“He was professional,” Silas said. “He’s part of the roster and tries to do what he can, but at this point we’re going to do what’s best for the group and do what’s best for PJ, and it’s probably not to have it here. “