Why might a 37-year-old who averaged 7.6 PPG last season be one of the most sought-after players when NBA free agency opens Thursday evening?
When P.J. Tucker returned to the NBA in 2012 after playing in a variety of European leagues, he was attractive as a popular NBA archetype: the 3-and-D wing player capable of knocking down open jumpers and defending opposing high scorers on the perimeter.
Over the past decade, the 6-foot-5 Tucker has helped push the league in a new direction. Having started at center for the Houston Rockets during the second half of the 2019-20 season, Tucker has in part established a new, trendy player type: the power forward who can slide to center as teams downsize in the playoffs.