Veteran forward P.J. Tucker is reportedly “irate” over not receiving a contract extension or raise from the Houston Rockets, according to Kelly Iko, Shams Charania, and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
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 35-year-old would also like a pay increase from his current salary of approximately $8 million per season, per The Athletic‘s report:
Tucker, the undeniable glue of the team, has been irate over his contract situation all season long, sources said. Tucker, who signed for around $8 million a season back in 2017, has seen other ‘Three-and-D’ wings around the league receive paydays in less important situations than a key starter for a contender and believes he is worthy of a raise, sources said.
Tucker, sources said, has stated his intent to finish his career as a Rocket for a long time but felt insulted by Houston’s decision to delay extension discussions and wait until after the Feb. 6 trade deadline to guarantee his 2020-21 salary.
Russell Westbrook’s desire to leave Houston after just one season is the latest turn in a season full of drama, a culture mess, and a lack of cohesion and accountability behind the scenes.
Story co-reported with @sam_amick and @ShamsCharania https://t.co/40eZF0QMHn
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) November 12, 2020
The 6-foot-5 Tucker, who became Houston’s starting center as part of the team’s February 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 he 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,” former GM Daryl Morey said in September 2019.
As of today, that “one year out” timetable has arrived. Perhaps more importantly, Morey has since been replaced as GM by Rafael Stone, which could offer an opportunity to improve the relationship.
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, 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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