The Los Angeles Clippers want to acquire PJ Tucker from the Philadelphia 76ers in a James Harden trade, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Harden has requested a trade from the Sixers and only wants to get traded to the Clippers, who covet Tucker’s ability to guard multiple NBA positions.
“PJ Tucker is another guy who could be out the door and was a key player they brought in recently,” Scotto said on his NBA podcast. “James Harden and Tucker are great friends, and remember, Harden gave up about $15 million for PJ and Danuel House to be on that Sixers team last season. As I reported previously on HoopsHype, Tucker has come up in the trade talks between the Sixers and Clippers. The Clippers covet Tucker’s ability to guard multiple positions and defend the league’s top opposing scorers.”
Tucker appeared in 75 games for the Sixers last season. He averaged 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 42.7% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc and 82.6% from the free-throw line. As Scotto mentioned, Tucker and Harden are very close friends.
After Harden learned about the Sixers’ plans to not give him a max deal this summer, he opted into his player option for next season and requested a trade. The future Hall of Famer believes he should be compensated fairly after averaging 21.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists last season while shooting 44.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 86.7% from the free-throw line and leading the NBA in assists per game.
Harden is extremely upset at the way in which the Sixers handled his possible free agency and has made his dissatisfaction clear to the franchise. There is strong optimism on Harden’s side that he will be traded to the Clippers since both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are said to be on board with the idea of Harden potentially joining them in Los Angeles.
The Sixers don’t have to honor Harden’s trade request since the 10-time NBA All-Star doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract. However, Harden requested trades from both the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets and got his wish, so history shows that he’ll eventually get traded by the Sixers.
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