The NBA has fined LA Clippers’ forward, P.J. Tucker, $75,000 for expressing his desire to be traded to another team during the week of February 5.
Tucker was traded earlier this season to the Los Angeles Clippers as a part of the deal that sent James Harden out there with the star trio on the West Coast. Tucker has been adamant about his desire to be traded for about two months. Not many minutes are available for him, and he has grown frustrated.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Tucker and teammate Bones Hyland were both sent home early from their road trip earlier this week. However, there have been conversations that the disgruntled North Carolina native would be able to contribute soon.
“Amid three months of frustrations, the Clippers and Tucker have had productive discussions this week about the disgruntled forward’ staying ready for potentially re-entering the rotation, according to league sources,” Charania shared.
The NBA does not miss a lot, and they also fined Tucker for his comments that were released the week of February 5th regarding him expressing that he wants to play. ESPN NBA reporter Ohm Youngmisuk was on the “Briant Windhorst and the Hoop Collective” podcast, where he mentioned that Tucker told him he was looking to be dealt.
“And of course, they do have P.J. Tucker who wants to be traded, has made no secret about that. He even told me that just last week in Toronto. I think his words were ‘actively looking to get traded.'”
Tucker and the Clippers are planning to use the much-needed break of a week during the NBA All-Star break starting tomorrow to regroup and get back on the same page. They aim to ensure that this situation doesn’t become a distraction leading into the playoffs.
