The wildest part of the NBA offseason has come and passed, and LA Clippers fans are now anxiously awaiting their team's first ever game at the brand new Intuit Dome. The team's roster has been mostly set for weeks now, with no new transactions of significance coming since mid-July.
With the roster all but complete, the next big thing Clippers fans are waiting for is training camp, which typically takes place in September. Before that date comes, a large part of the fanbase was hoping the Clippers would come up with a way to find veteran wing P.J. Tucker a new home in the NBA.
So far, that has not happened, and now the latest news indicates that he may not be traded or moved at all this offseason. What was once a near-certainty is now a faint possibility after the most recent update from The Athletic's Law Murray (subscription required).
P.J. Tucker is unlikely to be moved before training camp
In his latest article, Murray writes, "Per league sources, the Clippers are preparing for the possibility that forward PJ Tucker will be with the team to begin the season as well. Tucker opted into the final year of his contract and though the Clippers explored trading him, roster spots around the league are accounted for, making a deal unlikely before training camp."
This explanation does seem to add up. Most teams in the association have full rosters at this point, and there is not exactly a massive market for P.J.'s services. Making a deal happen in the next five to six weeks would require some sort of special circumstance.
Many have viewed the way Tucker reacted to reduced playing time this past season as a detriment to the team both on and off the court. He clearly desires a larger role on whatever team he is playing on, and the Clippers simply do not see that as their best option.
For the sake of both parties, we should hope that something gets done soon. The sooner P.J. is dealt elsewhere, the sooner the Clippers can work on finding one final player to fill his roster spot.