The Houston Rockets have agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal with free agent P.J. Tucker, according to The Vertical’s Shams Charania.
Free agent P.J. Tucker has reached agreement on a deal with the Houston Rockets, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2017
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, who was traded to Toronto in February, provides a veteran leadership and toughness for the Rockets. Houston completed a trade for Chris Paul this week that resulted in wings Lou Williams and Sam Dekker departing the team, leading general manager Daryl Morey to seek an upgrade on the bench. The Rockets also have been targeting a back-up point guard.
“It’s a big move for me,” Tucker told Mark Berman of Fox 26. “A big decision. I had a bunch of interest from a lot of teams. For me, I wanted to go to a situation where I could win and I can have a significant role. Obviously, being in Toronto, Toronto was my No. 1 option coming out. So for me to choose Houston was a big deal for me.”
A tenacious defender with a chiseled frame, Tucker plays each game with a fearless grit-and-grind mentality. Past coaches have raved about his effort, and younger teammates learn from his veteran ways.
In a conference with several dominant small forward scorers such as Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Tucker will help solidify the Rockets’ defense at the wing position.
Tucker averaged 6.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 81 games with the Suns and Raptors last season.
