Veteran Houston Rockets big man P.J. Tucker “remains hopeful” to work out a contract extension this offseason, an NBA source told HoopsHype. While Tucker is already under contract for the upcoming 2020-21 season, he would like to extend his stay for 2021-22 and beyond.
The 6-foot-5 Tucker, who became Houston’s starting center as part of the team’s transition to a smaller and more versatile lineup, will make just under $8 million next season. That’s the final season of the four-year, $32-million contract that Tucker originally signed in July 2017.
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 after the 2020-21 season. That makes Tucker an older player by NBA standards, which would seem to complicate any extension offer — especially if done multiple years in advance.
“I have found you don’t really get to an agreement with what both sides are looking at to how the extension can work, realistically, until you are one year out,” Rockets GM Daryl Morey said in September 2019.
In September 2020, that “one year out” timetable has arrived.
James Harden and Russell Westbrook are the first teammates to average at least 27 points and 7 assists in a season. They join LeBron James as the only players to average at least 25 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds the past 7 seasons. What's next for them? https://t.co/cnwKksluGj
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) September 16, 2020
In February, perhaps as a sign of good faith, the Rockets fully guaranteed the final year of Tucker’s existing deal. Less than half of that final year’s amount (for the 2020-21 season) was previously guaranteed.
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. Though he’s one of the team’s older players at 35 years old, he’s the only Rocket to play in every game in both the regular season and playoffs during those years.
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.
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