Why the Nuggets should be in on veteran role player who hit the trade block

Rosters are largely set as we enter another NBA season, but there are still a few odds and ends that need to shake out. We got a bit of surprising player transaction news over the weekend as it was announced that longtime veteran PJ Tucker will be away from the Clippers while the team works with him on a plan for his future.

Tucker has been a key contributor to multiple playoff teams over the years, such as the Bucks, Heat, Rockets, and others. He has a reputation as a dirt dog, three and d ace, and a reliable leader who brings toughness and grit. He’s gotten long in the tooth and his offensive game has almost entirely disappeared, but Tucker is still one of the most respected veterans in the league.

Tucker is entering the final year of his deal and is guaranteed $11.54 million for the upcoming season. At this point, that is a lot of money to pay for Tucker and his services. But at the same time, if you put aside the price tag, Tucker can still serve a purpose on a contending team.

The Nuggets should add PJ Tucker as a veteran enforcer

The Nuggets could be that team. They did their best to address their lack of veteran depth in the offseason by signing Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric, but they still don’t have a tough, physical, imposing player who can set the tone. Tucker could perfectly fill that void and give the Nuggets some much-needed attitude.

Tucker’s contract is somewhat imposing, but the good news is that it’s an expiring deal. As long as the team can find a way to match the salary to acquire him in a trade, they’ll have Tucker for the season and then his deal will come off the books.

The obvious trade solution for the Nuggets would be to send Zeke Nnaji and his $8.8 million salary plus another minimum player to the Clippers. The only issue is that Nnaji’s salary has four years left and could be seen as very imposing if LA doesn’t envision him having any future for the team.

They may be looking for a decent prospect or some kind of draft compensation to grease the wheels and get this deal done. But there’s also a chance that the Clippers view Tucker as a respected veteran and want to help facilitate a deal that makes everybody happy. If they are willing to play ball, the Nuggets should absolutely be making a call to gauge the market.