How the Jazz could help the PJ Tucker debacle in LA
By Matt John
The Utah Jazz have no use for someone like PJ Tucker on the basketball court. However, they have use for him on their cap sheet. Because Tucker's current team, the Los Angeles Clippers, also have no use for him period, a deal could be struck.
For context, NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that the Clippers are working to find a resolution for Tucker after sending him home.
Sources: Los Angeles Clippers granted permission for PJ Tucker’s agent Andre Buck to speak with other teams to facilitate working on a trade. Both sides continue working together while the veteran remains away from the team waiting for an opportunity to contribute to winning. pic.twitter.com/RUqXeOgOLE
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 24, 2024
The Athletic's Kelly Iko then reported which teams have interest in Tucker. To summarize, all of his suitors are teams he used to play for.
A number of contenders — including the 76ers, Heat, Bucks and Suns — have held trade conversations with P.J. Tucker’s representation, sources told myself and @LawMurrayTheNU. The 14-year veteran remains away from the team, hopeful for a solution.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 25, 2024
NBA Insider Marc Stein reported the same thing while adding that the chances of any of those teams trading for him are "very slim." He also added how Tucker could be added to one of those teams, knowing the hurdles they'd have to clear to get him via trade.
"The most likely scenario for teams interested in adding Tucker continues to require him to be traded elsewhere and then released by the team that takes on his salary," Stein wrote.
That's where the Jazz could come in.
The Jazz could be the middleman in this scenario
It's been explained before how the Jazz could help the Clippers since they are also dealing with the drama surrounding Kawhi Leonard. Well, knowing everything that's going on with Tucker alone, they could help the Clippers get rid of Tucker, help LA improve as a team in the process, and grant Tucker's wishes for a fresh start on a contender.
And for their troubles, the Jazz could get some assets and cap flexibility out of it. Tucker's on an expiring contract worth $11.5 million, which would make him pretty easy to acquire. Since the Jazz have players they don't really need long-term, there's a trade here.
The ideal candidate in this scenario is Jordan Clarkson. In Utah, various metaphorical horses have been beaten to death, and Clarkson not having much of a place there long-term is one of them. However, since the Jazz want to turn to their younger guards, the Clippers want to win now, and Clarkson should be on a playoff team, exchanging Tucker for Clarkson makes poetic sense.
Better yet, the Jazz could also offer to take Bones Hyland - who hasn't played once this season - with Tucker, thus helping the Clippers save money in the process, and the Jazz could take a harmless flyer on another young guard on an expiring contract.
The one hangup is that the Clippers will likely want to maintain their cap flexibility, too, so trading for Clarkson isn't exactly who they would want if that's what they desire more than anything in their qest to rid themselves of Tucker. However, if they want to boost their chances of returning to the playoffs, Clarkson would help them.
The Jazz have helped the Clippers before (see Westbrook, Russell), so it's not ludicrous to suggest that they could do it again by giving them Clarkson for an unwanted player like Tucker like they gave them Dunn for Westbrook.
The Clippers' backcourt is a little crowded, but Clarkson also makes them more dynamic and gives them another shot creator which they'll need while they sort out what's going on with Kawhi. It's not a picture-perfect scenario, but the Clippers don't want Tucker, Tucker wants to play, and the Jazz want to do right by Clarkson.
As far as trade proposals go, the Clippers can't really do much better than this one with Tucker.