P.J. Tucker inked a long-term deal late on Saturday night to join the Rockets as they continue to load up in an effort to become the top contender to the Warriors in the Western Conference. Tucker’s deal, which is reported as four years, $32 million by Shams Charania of The Vertical and others, slots into the mid-level exception for Houston.
Tucker has agreed to a four-year, $32M deal with the Rockets, league sources tell The Vertical. https://t.co/6w4j6B1YnL
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2017
Tucker’s departure is a big blow to the Raptors, whose best bet this offseason was to try and bring back Tucker along with Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka in order to maintain their position in the top half of the East. Now, their depth will take a hit due to Tucker’s departure although they continue to be the favorites to retain Lowry and Ibaka.
It wasn’t a lack of effort from Toronto that caused Tucker to leave, however. The Raptors offered a more than competitive deal to Tucker, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who reports that Toronto had a three-year, $33 million deal on the table for Tucker, but he turned it down to join Chris Paul and James Harden.
Chris Paul played big role getting friend PJ Tucker to HOU. Raps offered 3 yrs/$33M, Rockets deal is 4/$32M, partial guarantee in last year
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 2, 2017
If true, it’s very interesting that Tucker, a player that has earned only $13.3 million over his career to this point, would pass up a deal that paid an extra $3 million a year for a chance to play in Houston. That said, Tucker does get to return home to Texas, where he played his college ball for the Longhorns, and joins up with a squad that is far friendlier to 3-and-D players than the Raptors, who don’t create open shots the way the Rockets do.
