The Philadelphia 76ers are part of the list of teams that are constantly on the move heading into the 2022 NBA Draft.
According to a report by journalist Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the team led by the legendary Doc Rivers would be willing to hand over the Australian Matisse Thybulle along with the 23rd first-round draft pick, with the sole purpose of being able to free up enough salary space to sign veteran P.J. Tucker.
The 76ers reportedly have on the agenda to offer the 37-year-old veteran a three-year, $30 million deal to plant an annual salary of $10 million. That’s an important figure for a player who is recognized as one of the best defenders in the league, coupled with the fact that he already knows what it’s like to win a title (with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021).
This is not the only move cooked up by the franchise that plays its home game at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia: they are looking to move on from power forward Tobias Harris, who has been one of the secondary players in the offense led by star player Joel Embiid.
With Tucker’s arrival, the 76ers will automatically increase their chances of returning to the NBA Finals, which they have not reached since 2001, when Allen Iverson challenged the mighty Los Angeles Lakers led by Shaquille O’Neall and Kobe Bryant. That series was won by the Californian team in five games.
It is important to remember that the 76ers are coming off a six-game loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. And they finished the regular round with a record of 51 wins and 31 losses.
P.J. Tucker’s NBA Playoffs Numbers
The experienced player has played in the NBA playoffs with four franchises: Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat.
After 91 appearances in the league’s decisive instances, Tucker averages per game 7.3 points and 6 rebounds, with an impressive 40.7% in three-point shooting.
These are not superstar numbers, but the American’s work to nullify opponents is more than recognized in the NBA.
Would you like to see P.J. Tucker with the 76ers?