RealGM

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41646209/clippers-say-pj-tucker-away-team

We'll miss that 1.6 points per game a lot.

Can't have his mopey tired selfish ass near the kids. And he's not going to take a dime less than his full value of his contract to go away on a buyout.

The org is holding on to him in case they can deal him for anything or anyone because cutting him still counts against the salary cap and apron. But they just might have to if they want to use the roster spot for someone else.

Since he's expiring, he is technically useful as a filler in a trade to make contracts work. But if there's no actual trade available, he's just taking up a roster spot.

This should have been done last year when he threw that public temper tantrum over his minutes. Hopefully this franchise is finally growing a spine and not just bending to the demands of any player over 30 anymore.

problem is that basically no team wants him- maybe the Bucks would take him back though

esqtvd wrote:The org is holding on to him in case they can deal him for anything or anyone because cutting him still counts against the salary cap and apron. But they just might have to if they want to use the roster spot for someone else.

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14th or 15th roster spot guy is not gonna be a dude that brings anything positive to any team. We'll keep him until after the trade deadline then waive him is my guess. $11M is a pretty valuable filler in a loopsided salary trade. Hornets made the KAT trade to Knicks work and took 3 2nd rounders.

what a strange guy- he is 39 years old and this has to be his last season in the NBA. Why not mentor the young guys and just be happy if you get some playing time here and there? Could open pathways to coaching in the future.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:problem is that basically no team wants him- maybe the Bucks would take him back though

All these teams already have their PF in place along with a couple of youngsters to develop.

I think the big problem with finding a taker for Tucker or buying him out is the fear that he will make the next team he goes to better, he has a career high revenge game vs. Clippers, and helps them win a title, causing Clippers to go "That could have been US!!! WHY!!!"

I wouldn't be surprised if Clippers bought him out after the playoff eligibility cutoff date (March 1). That way, Tucker cannot participate in the playoffs, and all the Clippers will be saddled with is a salary cap hit plus extra should they stretch him. But then, Clippers will take a P.R. hit: "We did just that, and now the league HATES US for taking away a veteran presence!!! QUICK, DO SOMETHING SO THAT WE WILL BE LIKED AGAIN!!!"

This is the nature of competition; you have to be willing to be hated if you want to win a title, that's how you get rivalries. Look at the Padres and Dodgers postseason series right now - Dodgers swept Padres in 2020 to finally get it in Padre's heads they will always be inferior, then two years later Padres returned the favor by pulling off one of the greatest upsets in MLB history thanks to the deadline day trade for Juan Soto, making them a bona fide threat to Dodgers. Today, we have a rubber match that will go five games and the hate between two teams is evident. Why are the Clippers trying to play "Kumbaya, My Lord" when the league is blaring out hits like "Welcome To The Jungle."

All I'm saying is this: if the Clippers are going to act hesitantly for fear of what Tucker might do for another team let alone a rival and/or what he might do to them when they meet in a game, we have a problem bigger than just finding the right situation. We have a paranoia problem.

At this point he is a dead man /contract walking, as esqtvd likes to say he is what he is. He can either be a salary contribution towards a trade (and subsequently bought out), or he won't be traded.

Roscoe Sheed wrote:problem is that basically no team wants him- maybe the Bucks would take him back though

oops