The NBA trade deadline is less than two weeks away. While many are focused on what the Boston Celtics can do on the trade market, they could make some equally important moves on the buyout market.
If the C's do end up targeting players on the buyout market, Brian Scalabrine has one candidate that he hopes the team will target.
"I love P.J. Tucker as a buyout candidate and I think he's going to be interesting to teams out there," Scalabrine said on Celtics Pregame Live ahead of the team's Sunday night game against the Houston Rockets.
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Tucker isn't playing for the Rockets right now, as he demanded to be moved to a contender. The 35-year-old is averaging 4.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game and has shot a career-low 36.6 percent from the field.
On the surface, that doesn't seem all that exciting. So, why does Scal think that the Celtics should target him? It boils down to the under-the-radar areas that the role player could help in.
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Tucker certainly would help in those areas. He is a tough defender and last season, he ranked second in loose balls recovered and fifth in charges drawn. While his 33.3 percent average from the corners this year is below the league-average mark, he was significantly better in that area during the previous two seasons.
Despite being 6-foot-5, he can guard every position and often started at center for the small-ball Rockets. His versatility and defensive intensity would help the C's and give them another defensive stopper to pair with Marcus Smart.
If Tucker gets to the buyout market, there's no guarantee that he would choose the Celtics. As Scalabrine said, the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Utah Jazz could all make a push for him.
The Celtics at least could pursue him, though. If they can get him without having to sacrifice assets, he could prove to be a versatile piece for the C's bench. He wouldn't put them over the top by any means, but he could at least give them steady defense off the bench.