[ad_1]
Some Warriors fans have been eagerly awaiting the Houston Rockets implosion this season.
The Rockets finally hit a tipping point on Wednesday, when they shipped superstar James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, which turned into a four-way deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. Expect more dominoes to fall in Houston, as the Rockets are 3-6 and near the bottom of the Western Conference, and owner Tilman Fertitta would like to cut payroll.
Veteran forward PJ Tucker has long been seen as a logical option for the Warriors with their $ 9.3 million disabled player exception made available by Klay Thompson’s injury. But it appears Tucker has sparked the interest of several teams in the league, Athletic’s Kelly Iko reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
Tucker is only signed this season, so he would likely be a short-term hire. But the Warriors could make a lot of sense as a trading partner. Fertitta would receive nice savings on the salary cap and perhaps a protected choice from the Warriors, while the franchise would be at its lowest for the stacked 2021 and 2022 draft classes.
Tucker meets a variety of needs for the Warriors, starting with the depth of the frontcourt. Eric Paschall has performed well since Marquese Chriss’ injury, but Tucker would give the Warriors a physical forward who can stretch the ground with his 3-point skills. He would also provide a valuable veteran presence alongside Draymond Green and Steph Curry with the ability to defend multiple positions.
RELATED: Kerr Responds to Harden Trade, Warrior-Rocket Rivalry
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Tucker has modest averages of 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. But he’s shooting 52 percent (13 of 25) from beyond the arc this year, with the majority of his 3-point strikes coming from corner kick attempts. Imagine the good shots the Warriors could get with Curry running around the perimeter and Tucker waiting to take an open look.
The Warriors have played in 11 of their 72 games and have started to click in their recent seven-game home stint. But the push for the playoffs will come quickly in this packed season, so Golden State should try to strike a deal with Houston while the iron is hot.
Download and subscribe to the Dubs Talk podcast
[ad_2]
Source link