While the Rockets were on their way to a 14th straight loss on Thursday night in Sacramento, P.J. Tucker was headed back to Houston as he awaits a trade prior to the March 25 deadline.
“We’re going to try to figure out something that works for him and works for us as far as him not being on the team anymore,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said after Thursday's 125-105 loss to the Kings.
Tucker was with the team in Sacramento, but did not participate in Wednesday's practice, still, Silas said he expected him to play Thursday, only to find out prior to tip off that he would be unavailable.
“I was under the assumption that he was going to be playing tonight and before the game I found out he was not going to be playing,” Silas said. “At some point during the game there was a mutual agreement between P.J., his agent, (Rockets general manager Rafael Stone) and the organization that P.J. will not be with the team anymore.”
In the final year of a four-year contract, Tucker, 35, is averaging just 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 36.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from behind the three-point line. He and the Rockets have been unable to come to an agreement on a contract, and with the Rockets sitting at 11-24 on the season, Tucker would like to be moved to a contender.
“He was not really with it and we decided that that’s a good idea; let’s move on,” Silas said.
ESPN reported Thursday night that the Rockets have engaged with the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Milwaukee Bucks about a possible trade.
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