We do not have to sugarcoat it: this past season was a rough campaign for the likes of P.J. Tucker. The seasoned veteran joined the LA Clippers following the blockbuster trade for James Harden, and never really found his footing as an established rotation player in Tyronn Lue's system.
For the first month he was a Clipper last November, P.J. was earning legitimate playing time and seeing the court for around 15 minutes a night. But after LA's November 27 contest with Denver, Tucker did not play again until February in Memphis.
In nine straight contests from November 17 to February 28, P.J. went scoreless while attempting a grand total of three shots from the floor. He was a non-factor in virtually every way, and many began to wonder how much longer he would be a Clipper.
Even with the 2023-24 season now behind us, that question still remains. Tucker's effectiveness as a three-and-D wing has certainly plummeted from the level he was at five to six years ago, and there is not a lot of demand for him from any team around the association.
Tucker wants to wait until the right time for retirement
That leads many to the natural question about retirement. P.J. is currently the second-oldest player in the association behind only LeBron James. But despite how his impact on the game has fallen, it does not appear the veteran is ready to call it quits.
"Honestly, I don't know," Tucker said about when he plans to retire in a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio. "I'm gonna let my body tell me. I've been blessed enough to be healthy pretty much my entire career, so I still feel pretty good. I'm just gonna let it play out. Once my body tells me, I'm thinking I'll do it."
We know that P.J. believes he is still capable of playing a larger role due to his clear dissatisfaction with how he was used in Los Angeles this past season. He expressed that he does not want to give up too early. "A lot of the guys I used to play with, some of them retired too early. Tried to make comebacks, and do this, that and the third. I don't want to be one of those guys."
Tucker made it clear that when he decides to retire, he wants to stay retired. If that is the case and he still desires to play in a significant on-court role, it will likely be in his and the Clippers' best interests for him to find a new home.