MILWAUKEE — P.J. Tucker says a transfer to the championship-contending Milwaukee Bucks gives the 35-year-old veteran a breath of recent air and an opportunity to show round a irritating season.
Tucker practiced together with his new group Friday after the Bucks formally introduced that they had acquired the 6-foot-5 ahead together with guard Rodions Kurucs from the Houston Rockets The Bucks despatched guard D.J. Augustin plus ahead D.J. Wilson to Houston.
As a part of the commerce, the Bucks gave up their 2021 and 2023 first-round picks and acquired again their very own 2022 first-round decide and the Rockets’ 2021 second-round choice.
“Man, I used to be nipping on the bit at the moment to get in apply, to get in there simply to hit our bodies and discuss and be with the fellows,” Tucker mentioned. “It felt nice. It feels good simply to have my battery recharged.”
Tucker provides the Bucks a stable defender and high quality 3-point shooter – particularly from the corners – as they bid for his or her first NBA title since 1971. Bucks common supervisor Jon Horst mentioned in an announcement that Tucker “checks all of the containers” together with his versatility and all-around recreation.
“His protection is at an elite stage,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned.
Budenholzer cited “his potential to protect a number of positions, his potential to protect the perfect gamers within the league, the physicality he brings to that stage of the courtroom, the playoff expertise he brings and the power to area the courtroom, make 3’s, play the appropriate approach, play sensible with excessive basketball IQ.”
Tucker hasn’t performed in a recreation since March 3 however is anticipated to be out there Saturday when the Bucks host the San Antonio Spurs.
The Rockets mentioned final week they had been making an attempt to commerce Tucker, who’s within the closing season of a $31.8 million, four-year contract.
Tucker had began every of the 32 video games during which he appeared and was averaging 4.4 factors because the Rockets have struggled after dealing Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Tucker was taking pictures 31.4% from 3-point vary however had been a extra dependable 3-point shooter in earlier seasons.
“It’s been a irritating 12 months from all standpoints,” Tucker mentioned.
Tucker leaves behind a group that was close to the underside of the Western Convention standings to hitch a membership competing for the highest seed within the East.
The Rockets have misplaced a franchise-record 18 straight video games. The Bucks (26-14) have received 5 straight video games and 9 of their final 10, placing them 1 1/2 video games behind Philadelphia and Brooklyn within the Jap Convention standings.
“I really feel like we’ve acquired an opportunity to win a championship and do one thing particular,” Tucker mentioned.
The addition of Tucker continues the reshaping of Milwaukee’s roster that started with the offseason acquisition of Jrue Vacation.
Tucker seems ahead to the chance to play with two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“As quickly as I see Giannis at the moment, he checked out me and I checked out him and we each mentioned the identical factor,” Tucker mentioned. “He was like, ‘I don’t must go towards you no extra.’ And I mentioned, ‘Yeah, and I don’t have to protect you anymore.’ We each laughed as a result of we’ve had some epic battles going at it. It positively shall be good to be on the identical aspect now.”
The Bucks acquired Tucker together with the 23-year-old Kurucs, who has performed in 16 video games for Brooklyn and Houston this season.
Augustin, 33, was averaging 6.1 factors, 3 assists and 19.3 minutes in his first season with Milwaukee after spending 4 seasons in Orlando. The 25-year-old Wilson had averaged 3.6 factors in 12 video games this season and hadn’t been capable of work his approach into the Bucks’ rotation.
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