PJ Tucker (Photo : Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The recent trade rumors have a new player that has caught the eye of contenders and fringe playoff teams.
PJ Tucker of the Phoenix Suns displays lockdown defense based on his grit and toughness. Not so beneficial on a guard-based offense running on a team at the bottom of the standings but it could make a difference in a tough playoff series.
There are also other pieces that the Suns could send off in the trade deadline. It seems clear that no one is untouchable save for Devin Booker. ESPN named Tucker, Brandon Knight and Tyson Chandler as the movable pieces, but if the Suns want to go for broke and trade for a star, Eric Bledsoe must be the included.
The report quoted Suns GM Ryan McDonough who made clear his preference to trade up,
"Just to trade one of our core guys for a second-round pick -- given that we have all of our own picks going forward, given that we have those two Miami picks that are getting closer to conveying, potentially starting next year in the 2018 draft -- second-round picks, they don't really move the needle a lot for us."
He also gave the trade value kicker statement: "We have plenty of money available going forward. We don't have another player like him on the roster. There's certainly a chance we could re-sign him," McDonough said.
For Tucker at least, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports named the teams interested. "According to my NBA sources, the Clippers, Bulls, Cavaliers, Timberwolves and Hawks all have interest in acquiring the lock-down physical defender who is in the last year of his contract at just $5.3 million," Gambadoro said.
The Chicago Bulls would be an interesting destination as they have a star to offer. Butler and Tucker together seems redundant, so why would the Suns not offer Tucker, Eric Bledsoe, possibly Marques Chriss and their 2017 first round pick for Jimmy Butler? This was explored in Bright Side of the Sun, an SB Nation blog.
Brandon Knight has long been a target of teams seeking point guard help. The Cleveland Cavaliers may be looking at a Tucker/Knight/Chandler package in exchange for someone substantial (we're tempted to say Kevin Love again). There should be some updates in the coming weeks.
As their GM stated, the Suns are looking for stars for their future and the Minnesota Timberwolves could provide that. Andrew Wiggins for a similar package that could be offered for Butler. There are talks that Chandler is attractive for Coach Tom Thibodeau as a defensive anchor alongside Karl Anthony-Towns and they still have Zach Lavine developing as an offensive backcourt player.
