The LA Clippers' roster was of course shaken up in a big way last October when they made their Halloween Night trade for James Harden. They got one of the biggest names of the last decade in the NBA to run their offense, but they also got an additional role player to come over with him: P.J. Tucker.
At first, the impact of Tucker was thought to be a significant boost to the Clippers' rotation. And indeed, he played in the majority of the team's games in November 2023, earning just under 15 minutes per night. But the problem was, his scoring numbers were dismal. P.J. was shooting just 28.6% from the floor.
That led to his benching, and Tucker did not appear in a game for the Clippers until February 2024. He played sparingly for the remainder of the regular season and saw action in just two of LA's four first-round playoff games. P.J. was essentially a non-factor for this team. He was very dissatisfied with his role and how he was being used by the team, which he expressed publicly.
Recently, it was announced that Tucker would not be with the Clippers going forward. The team released a statement on his situation. "We’ve had ongoing conversations with PJ throughout the offseason and have both decided that he won’t be with the team for the time being. PJ is a pro who has achieved a lot in his career and there’s more he wants to accomplish. We will continue working with PJ and his representative to find the best situation for him moving forward.”
📰 @TheAthletic
— Law Murray 🏟️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 7, 2024
PJ Tucker and the LA Clippers have rarely been on the same page since his arrival 11 months ago. They do agree that he won't be around the team for the time being.https://t.co/wCQ4L7aU5C pic.twitter.com/X3VGcWll9x
P.J. Tucker will be away from the Clippers "for the time being"
For all intents and purposes, it would appear that P.J.'s time with the Clippers is over and done with. His tenure with the team has been a frustrating one for seemingly everyone involved, but it seems he will soon get a chance to play with another team, assuming LA can find a situation that makes sense.
Ty Lue somewhat surprisingly even pointed out to media that Tucker is on the last year of his contract, and could "ride off into the sunset," jokingly remarking that P.J. is "70 years old." This probably paints an accurate picture of where the organization and Tucker lie in terms of their relationship.
The P.J. Tucker era in Los Angeles was certainly a disappointing one, but now fans can rest in the fact that all that can be put in the past. This team has goals and aspirations, and they can now move forward without any added distractions.