With the trade of PJ Tucker to the Milwaukee Bucks now official, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas were each allowed Friday to discuss the transaction.
The Bucks are sending young big man D.J. Wilson and veteran point guard DJ Augustin to the Rockets in exchange for Tucker and Rodions Kurucs. The teams are also exchanging draft assets in 2021, 2022 and 2023 with Houston getting more value as part of a complex series of swaps.
Regarding the deal, Stone said (via Mark Berman)
We’re happy for PJ. He’s an exceptional competitor and he’s been an enormous part of our success for the last few years. We’re happy for him that he’s gonna get the opportunity, at this point in his career, to pursue a championship again this year with another team. In terms of the trade, we think it’s good for Milwaukee. They’re getting a guy who can really make a difference winning at the very top level.
For us, we think it makes sense. It’s good for our future, and we’re also excited about DJ Augustin, a guy who has real Houston ties and is an elite shooter, and we think can help us immediately on the court and in the locker room. We think this deal provides us with additional flexibility to get really good, young players, but also to be aggressive in pursuing current NBA players.
Rockets General Manager @RafaelStone12 on the trade with the Miwaukee Bucks: “We’re happy for PJ (Tucker). He’s an exceptional competitor and he’s been an enormous part of our success for the last few years. We’re happy for him that he’s gonna get the opportunity at this point..” pic.twitter.com/47DeBrIMiB
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 19, 2021
A career 37.9% shooter from 3-point range, Augustin is nearly level with that lofty mark in the 2020-21 season (38.0%).
As for Silas, who spoke before Friday night’s home game against Detroit, Houston’s head coach told reporters:
I’m excited about both of them. I’m excited about DJ Augustin, I coached him in Charlotte for a couple years. I know what he brings, as far as professionalism, as far as shot-making, as far as getting the team organized. And he’s very excited to be here, which is great.
D.J. Wilson, I don’t know him very well, but he’s a big body, live body. He hasn’t really gotten a chance to show what he can do, so he’ll get an opportunity here to play some. We’ll figure out what his strengths are, and how he fits in with the group. We’re definitely excited to have both guys.
Silas said that both Augustin and Wilson had completed their physicals with the Rockets, as did Tucker and Kurucs with the Bucks, so each player in the deal was eligible as of Friday night to play for his new team.
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