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Clippers 2024-2025 Player Preview: PJ Tucker
Our player preview series for the 2025 Clippers continues with embattled veteran PJ Tucker.
Basic Information
Height: 6’5
Weight: 245 pounds
Position: Forward
Age: 39
Years in NBA: 13
Key Stats: 1.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocked shots in 15.0 minutes of play across 28 games played (7 starts) on 35.6/36.7/100 shooting splits.
Contract Status: Final year of a three-year contract worth a little over $11 million for this season.
Expectations
Considering PJ Tucker is away from the team, there aren’t any expectations for him going into this season. He’s not going to play any role and he’s awaiting a resolution on his status with the team.
Following the trade last season, Tucker made it clear he was not a fan of the deal and that he expected to have a big role with the Clippers. That never happened and he spent most of last season making his displeasure known.
If the Clippers are unable to find a taker for Tucker in a trade, he’ll just spend the entire season away from the team and they’ll let his contract expire at the end of the season. Either that or perhaps a buyout could be an option.
Strengths
When Tucker got to play last season, he was actually one of the better rebounders on the team. Despite his height, Tucker has always used a combination of size and smart positioning to make an impact on the glass.
Although he is one of the older players in the league, Tucker can still be effective defensively with the right matchups. He did a decent job on Zion Williamson last season.
Tucker has also maintained his consistency for the most part from three-point range, even with his attempts from distance leveling off in recent seasons.
Weaknesses
Although Tucker has kept his percentages at a decent efficiency, he was anything but consistent from three-point range for the Clippers. If he would’ve been able to knock down shots at a consistent rate, then perhaps his role with the team would have been bigger.
Overall, he’s just seen a drop in production to where he just isn’t as consistent a role player anymore. He’s a situational player who is really only effective in certain matchups.
Summary
If Tucker would be content to play only in certain matchups, while being a locker room veteran, then he would be with the team. The only issue is he isn’t content with riding the bench for most games. He believes he still has enough to contribute to a team.
And you can’t blame him. NBA careers fly by in the blink of an eye. He wants to milk it for as long as he can. But he’s also at the tail end of his career. He just isn’t effective enough to be a regular rotation player.
The options remain: a possible trade to a team looking for an expiring contract, a buyout, or just have him stay away and let his contract expire at the end of the season.
Clippers 2024-2025 Player Preview: PJ Tucker
David Yapkowitz