Suns to sign PJ Tucker

[KloD]

Right, except that the difference between Tucker's new first-year salary and his RFA cap hold is probably minimal.

Actually his cap hold is just under $2.9m. So there could be a benefit in holding off on his signature.

 

[sunsfan88]

Fair deal. I thought he might command a bit more in the open market but I guess his age probably hurt him a bit.

 

[Griffin]

Actually his cap hold is just under $2.9m. So there could be a benefit in holding off on his signature.

But verbal agreements count against the cap just as if he already signed.

 

[KloD]

But verbal agreements count against the cap just as if he already signed.

Really? How is this true?

 

[Hoop Head]

But verbal agreements count against the cap just as if he already signed.

No they don't. That doesn't make any sense considering if that were the case then teams wouldn't let verbal commitments become public. Not sure where you heard that but if you have a source I'd love to see it but it makes no sense. Especially since verbal commitments can be broken, like years ago when Hedo agreed to sign with Portland but then reneged on it and signed with Toronto.

 

[leclerc]

Great signing. He's a big part of our team. We have a nice rotation on the wings now:
3: Tucker / Warren / Morris
2: Dragon / Green / Goodwin

Need to sign Bledsoe to a fair deal and go get a big.

Not a big change from last year's roster but our young guys are only getting better. Looking forward to seeing Goodwin, Len, Warren and the guys in summer league!

 

[slinslin]

We would be 3 deep at most positions if we signed Monroe

5: Monroe/Plumlee/Len
4: Markieff/Monroe
3: Tucker/Marcus/Warren
2: Dragic/Green/Goodwin
1: Bledsoe/Thomas/Ennis

A true power forward might be in order for this team or if they plan on Marcus Morris and TJ Warren as power forwards then we need maybe another true small forward (Evan Turner, Paul Pierce..)

 

[jbeecham]

I'm not a fan of the Tucker signing.

He's a decent, tough-nosed, hard working player. He's above average defensively and seems to make everyone play harder on defense. Offensively he's sub-par... he can hit a corner 3 decently and grab some offensive rebounds, but beyond that he's really bad & makes poor decisions with the ball. He's a bad dribbler, bad passer, bad mid-range jumpshooter, can't create his own shot, etc etc. Tucker has worked hard to get where he is and I admire that, but he seems like a guy who's already hit his ceiling.

With the current state of our PFs, it looks like Markieff Morris is going to be starting (unless we sign someone better). I'd rather start Marcus along with Keiff to keep that continuity they have and have Warren come off the bench as the backup SF (and occasional PF).

Tucker's contract isn't bad at all and I get that he's part of the heart & soul of the team (along with Dragic), but at this point he's just taking minutes away from other guys that should have more upside. This team is expected to be a fringe playoff team (assuming we keep Bledsoe) and all this signing does is help keep us on the fringe with 45-50 wins and high lottery draft picks.

 

[devilalum]

We would be 3 deep at most positions if we signed Monroe

5: Monroe/Plumlee/Len
4: Markieff/Monroe
3: Tucker/Marcus/Warren
2: Dragic/Green/Goodwin
1: Bledsoe/Thomas/Ennis

A true power forward might be in order for this team or if they plan on Marcus Morris and TJ Warren as power forwards then we need maybe another true small forward (Evan Turner, Paul Pierce..)

Yeah, but only 5 can play at a time and there's only one ball. The Suns need a STAR!

 

[sunsfan88]

I'm not a fan of the Tucker signing.

He's a decent, tough-nosed, hard working player. He's above average defensively and seems to make everyone play harder on defense. Offensively he's sub-par... he can hit a corner 3 decently and grab some offensive rebounds, but beyond that he's really bad & makes poor decisions with the ball. He's a bad dribbler, bad passer, bad mid-range jumpshooter, can't create his own shot, etc etc. Tucker has worked hard to get where he is and I admire that, but he seems like a guy who's already hit his ceiling.

With the current state of our PFs, it looks like Markieff Morris is going to be starting (unless we sign someone better). I'd rather start Marcus along with Keiff to keep that continuity they have and have Warren come off the bench as the backup SF (and occasional PF).

Tucker's contract isn't bad at all and I get that he's part of the heart & soul of the team (along with Dragic), but at this point he's just taking minutes away from other guys that should have more upside. This team is expected to be a fringe playoff team (assuming we keep Bledsoe) and all this signing does is help keep us on the fringe with 45-50 wins and high lottery draft picks.

You make some good points especially about Tucker making bad decisions with the ball, passing, mid range etc but I think his defense and rebounding alone should net $5-$6M/yr.

 

[95pro]

I'm not a fan of the Tucker signing.

He's a decent, tough-nosed, hard working player. He's above average defensively and seems to make everyone play harder on defense. Offensively he's sub-par... he can hit a corner 3 decently and grab some offensive rebounds, but beyond that he's really bad & makes poor decisions with the ball. He's a bad dribbler, bad passer, bad mid-range jumpshooter, can't create his own shot, etc etc. Tucker has worked hard to get where he is and I admire that, but he seems like a guy who's already hit his ceiling.

With the current state of our PFs, it looks like Markieff Morris is going to be starting (unless we sign someone better). I'd rather start Marcus along with Keiff to keep that continuity they have and have Warren come off the bench as the backup SF (and occasional PF).

Tucker's contract isn't bad at all and I get that he's part of the heart & soul of the team (along with Dragic), but at this point he's just taking minutes away from other guys that should have more upside. This team is expected to be a fringe playoff team (assuming we keep Bledsoe) and all this signing does is help keep us on the fringe with 45-50 wins and high lottery draft picks.

marcus did not prove to be a starter, so why put him in over tucker?
who's he taking minutes away that have more upside at sf? maybe warren but we have to see how he develops. tucker is a versatile defender who can guard some 2-4's.

 

[jbeecham]

marcus did not prove to be a starter, so why put him in over tucker?
who's he taking minutes away that have more upside at sf? maybe warren but we have to see how he develops. tucker is a versatile defender who can guard some 2-4's.

My point was that I don't think we should've resigned Tucker...even though I see his value & his contract is decent.

I would've started Marcus because of his continuity with Markieff (who is now starting). Those two played very well together off the bench last year. We also have TJ Warren & Gerald Green that can play SF. Any 3 of these guys could really start at SF and hopefully Warren will take that spot over by next season.

Adding PJ back to that overloaded SF spot just seems like a waste of money & stunts the development of Warren (and to a lesser extent Marcus Morris).

 

[Mainstreet]

Below is one of the reasons I'm glad the Suns re-signed PJ Tucker. He signed a reasonable contract with the Suns and he was grateful for the opportunity the Suns gave him. Nothing like earning what you get. Raja Bell had to earn it the hard way as well.

Tucker thought of stints in Israel, Ukraine, Greece and Germany. He recalled lowlights such as 12-hour bus rides and Ukrainian dirt roads but also highlights such as coming to Las Vegas two years ago without a contract guarantee to be a Suns summer-league backup.

It all paid off for a three-year deal worth $16.5 million, about $12.7 million of which is guaranteed.

"I cried," Tucker said. "It was emotional, man. It was an emotional time. Ain't anybody been through what I've been through.

"To get to the point where I'm at now is just only God and faith that I knew I was supposed to be in the NBA. Every day, every game, I leave it all out there. People think I play hard. It's just me wanting to be in the NBA and trying to prove every game that I should be here."

See article from Paul Coro dated 7-14-14 at azcentral for more.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor.../?hootPostID=d4b97fe61ccdfbbfae918e61eec708ed

 

[sunsfan88]

Below is one of the reasons I'm glad the Suns re-signed PJ Tucker. He signed a reasonable contract with the Suns and he was grateful for the opportunity the Suns gave him. Nothing like earning what you get. Raja Bell had to earn it the hard way as well.



See article from Paul Coro dated 7-14-14 at azcentral for more.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor.../?hootPostID=d4b97fe61ccdfbbfae918e61eec708ed

I hope he doesn't lose the drive and hustle now that he got his big contract.