The NBA announced that Los Angeles Clippers forward PJ Tucker was fined $75,000, the highest in the NBA this season, for public trade complaints.
Tucker expressed his desire to be traded on February 5, which is against league policy.
The 38-year-old NBA veteran has not been happy with his playing time on a Clippers team that is loaded this season.
He was acquired by Los Angeles in the James Harden trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, but has not played since Nov. 27 after appearing in 12 games.
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PJ Tucker of the LA Clippers looks on from the bench against the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena on February 5, 2024 in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I want to be somewhere where I'm needed, I'm loved, and I can do it all,” Tucker told Andscape's Marc Spears before the NBA trade deadline. “I don't know what's going to happen, but I have my fingers crossed. And I hope to go somewhere else, whether they buy me out and I choose where I go or where I can play.”
The deadline was February 8 and Tucker remained on the Clippers' roster. He posted on Instagram after the deadline.
“This is all a fucking joke,” he wrote on his Instagram Story.
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Despite his clear frustration, Bleacher Report reported that Tucker would not request a buyout from the Clippers. The team's management believes he can still be useful in the playoffs, according to The Athletic.
This isn't the first time Tucker has expressed a desire to play more. He told The Athletic that he was trying to be professional “while he was trying to be in a better situation for me personally.”
Tucker noted that he would have conversations with Clippers coaches if he isn't traded, saying, “I'll have to figure it out from there.”
PJ Tucker of the LA Clippers arrives at the arena before a game against the Miami Heat on February 4, 2024 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. (Issac Baldizón/NBAE via Getty Images)
In the past, Tucker has said he believes he can still contribute to a team.
“I know myself, I know my worth. I know what I bring to the table,” he told ClutchPoints. “I know what I have contributed. I know what I can continue to contribute. And with that, I want to be able to go to a good team that I can help.”
Tucker said he understood there was no role for him with the Clippers at the time and that “obviously [playing zero minutes is] “It's not what I want to do now at this stage of my career.”
Tucker has bounced around the NBA throughout his 13 years in the league. He is most notably a 2021 NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks. Tucker also spent five seasons with the Phoenix Suns and four with the Houston Rockets. He also played for the 76ers, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors.
Tucker is known for his ability to shoot three-pointers while playing strong defense. He is a career-high 36.5% shooter from beyond the arc, although he averages 6.7 points per game for his career.
PJ Tucker of the LA Clippers shoots before a game on December 14, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Tucker has an $11.5 million player option on his contract for next season.
