It turns out that a contract extension between the Houston Rockets and veteran forward PJ Tucker might still happen after all.
Entering the last year of his existing deal, Tucker’s lack of an extension has clear been a sore subject during talks with the media at training camp. Tucker arrived slightly late, which is atypical for him, and did not travel with the team on a preseason road trip to Chicago for two games.
But as of Friday, Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen reports that “both sides are hopeful” of a deal. Feigen writes:
“There may be something there,” he said.
The Rockets are likely to offer a two-year extension to Tucker, who is entering the final season of the four-year deal he signed with the Rockets as a free agent in 2016. The hang up in talks could be over the amount that would be guaranteed in the second season of the contract extension.
Talks have been ongoing including a conversation Rockets general manager Rafael Stone had on Friday morning with Tucker’s agent, Andre Buck.
New #Rockets at #TXSN – Rockets, P.J. Tucker continue extension talks but no deal is imminent https://t.co/WrnEsCTSR9
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 18, 2020
A gritty and versatile 6-foot-5 forward, Tucker has shown immense value to the Rockets in recent years — both on and off the court. Over three seasons in Houston, Tucker has averaged 6.8 points (36.9% on 3-pointers) and 6.0 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per game. While he’s one of the team’s older players, he’s also the only Rocket to play in every game in both the regular season and playoffs during those years. Since 2012-13, Tucker has played in the most games of any player in the entire league.
Tucker is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s best and toughest defenders, and he’s also one of the top leaders in Houston’s locker room.
