The Houston Rockets’ trade of Clint Capela leaves a glaring, giant, center-sized hole that’s going to be filled in part by a 6-foot-5 player.
Though the Rockets are reportedly still trying to acquire a new center, do-it-all player PJ Tucker is going to get more time at the five. He’s done it in the past admirably, but Tucker’s journey that started as a pitbull-like small forward has taken him down another strange path.
He and Jordan Bell, acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Capela deal, are expected to get the bulk of the time at center, unless Houston is able to pull off a trade or find a big on the buyout market.
Twitter had jokes about Tucker playing center.
So did Tucker himself.
Tucker posted a picture to Instagram of him standing on the basketball court … in stilts.
It’s a good thing Tucker is taking this with humor, because people on Twitter, as they tend to do, are doing the same.
Any Center vs the Rockets in the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/EFFMK1MKz1
— Austin (@threepeatbulls) February 5, 2020
Pj Tucker when Mike D’Antoni told him he’s playing center pic.twitter.com/RuPzVw1Equ
— DailySportsDosage (@OfficalDSD) February 6, 2020
Mans just found out he’s the backup center https://t.co/mYDAGpnias
— ahhhhhh (dats me yellin) (@NekiasNBA) February 5, 2020
Please send your thoughts and prayers over to PJ Tucker.
Ain’t nothing wrong with him, it’s just the Rockets are gonna play him for 55 mpg as a 6’5 center at the age of 34, soon to be 35. pic.twitter.com/WEYh8JdB1U
— クチュール (@SpecificNY) February 5, 2020
AD when he sees the Rockets Front Court pic.twitter.com/ntboGzpWri
— Ahmed/Plz be my GF (@big_business_) February 5, 2020
Tucker now faces the prospect of guarding bigs like Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis or Rudy Gobert in the playoffs, in addition to whatever normal duties he would have on opponents’ best wings.
But after playing overseas for five seasons before carving out a spot for himself in the NBA, Tucker has gone through tougher.
