The Houston Rockets are planning to fully guarantee the fourth and final year of P.J. Tucker‘s contract for the 2020-21 season, according to a report late Sunday by The Athletic‘s Shams Charania.
The 6-foot-5 Tucker, who is now Houston’s starting center as part of a recent transition to a smaller lineup, will make just short of $8 million next season. Less than half of that final year’s amount was previously guaranteed under the terms of his four-year, $32-million contract, which Tucker signed with the Rockets in July 2017.
In three seasons in Houston, Tucker is averaging 6.9 points (37.1% on 3-pointers) and 6.0 rebounds in 31.9 minutes per game. Though he’s one of the team’s older players at 34 years old, he’s the only Rocket to play in every game in both the regular season and playoffs over those years.
He’s widely regarded as one of the NBA’s best and toughest defenders, and also one of the top leaders in the Houston locker room.
Tucker indicated last offseason that he was hoping to secure a contract extension from the Rockets, but he’ll be 36 years old when his current deal expires in mid-2021. That will make him older player by NBA standards, which in turn makes an extension that far in advance a risky proposition for GM Daryl Morey and Houston’s front office.
However, considering Tucker’s immense contributions to the team for three years running, fully guaranteeing the final season in advance seems to be an appropriate compromise for both parties.
