Jimmy Butler stayed put in Chicago. Paul George remained in Indiana. And, most importantly, the Boston Celtics stood pat.
Those were all positive occurrences for the Toronto Raptors on Thursday as the NBA trade deadline came and passed. Masai Ujiri’s team didn’t make a blockbuster move, but did get incrementally better by acquiring defensive stalwart P.J. Tucker from the Phoenix Suns for Jared Sullinger and 2017 and 2018 second-round picks.
Here are a few tidbits about the newest (and slightly familiar) face in Raptorland.
Name: P.J. Tucker
Position: Small forward
Shoots: Right
Age: 31
Height: Six-foot-six
Weight: 245 lb.
Drafted: Second round, 35th overall by Raptors in 2006.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent after 2016-17 season
Coming full circle
The name P.J. Tucker sounds familiar to Raptors fans because it is familiar: He was drafted by Toronto in 2006.
Here’s some video to jog your memory:
Tucker’s first go-around in the city was short-lived, though, lasting just 17 games in the 2006-07 campaign. Tucker averaged just under five minutes that season, in which the Raptors eventually fell to the New Jersey Nets in the first round of the playoffs.
Following his brief stint in Toronto, Tucker spent five seasons playing pro ball in Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy and Germany. In 2012 he returned to the NBA, landing in Phoenix.
Tucker has averaged 7.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists over six total NBA seasons.
Defending the King
Almost all trade-deadline moves by Eastern Conference teams are made with the contemplation of facing LeBron James and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the post-season. That’s likely the case in the Raptors’ acquisition of Tucker, who along with the recently added Serge Ibaka, should significantly bolster Toronto’s defence.
Here’s video posted in 2012 of Tucker guarding James during a Suns-Heat contest. By the looks of it, Tucker is an intense stopper.
Sure, the video is a little old, but as ESPN’s Marc J. Spears points out on Twitter, the Raptors play James and the Cavs once more in the regular season, on April 12. Tucker will get a chance to show off his skills in that affair, which is the season finale for both clubs.
Bring the fire
Tucker is a physically imposing figure and has a reputation as an aggressive guard with a fiery demeanor. Case in point? His fight with Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin. After getting tangled up during a battle under the net in a 2014 game, the pair fell to the ground and Tucker intentionally landed a clear hit to the face of Griffin, causing players from both teams to rush in.
Tucker shared his philosophy on physicality in this 2013 article on Azcentral.com:
“They know I’m going to come at them so they’re ready to come at me too,” Tucker said. “I like it, though. I’m getting respect in this league for what I do. They know I’m going to hit them so they’re going to try to hit me too.”
Almost safe
As the trade deadline drew closer to its 3 p.m. ET conclusion on Thursday, Tucker thought he was safe, until Suns teammate Devin Booker jinxed it.
“We were all in the shower, it was one o’clock so we all thought it was done and Book kind of looked at me and said ‘I told you, you ain’t going nowhere,’” Tucker said to media. “And then literally it just happened right when he said that.”
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