P.J. Tucker barely played after joining the Knicks in March, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready for retirement. The 40-year-old forward announced in an Instagram story on Wednesday that he plans to continue his career (Twitter link from New York Basketball).
Tucker blasted “uncredited sources” who apparently have been reporting that he’s about to retire and stated that he had to interrupt his vacation to “set the record straight.”
“Never have (I) mentioned retirement or even given any indication that may be a thing,” Tucker wrote. “I’m 40 years young 100% healthy, able, and will continue playing the game I’ve dedicated my life to… HOOPIN!!!!!!”
Tucker began this season with the Clippers after picking up an $11.54MM player option, but he reached an agreement to stay away from the team while his agent and team officials worked to find a trade.
Nothing happened until February 1 when he was sent to Utah as part of a four-player deal. He was moved to Toronto five days later in the five-team Jimmy Butler trade and remained inactive with the Raptors until they waived him at the end of February.
Tucker signed a 10-day contract with New York on March 10 and another one on March 20. Even though he only made one brief game appearance during that time, he was signed to a standard contract because Knicks officials liked the influence he had in the locker room.
Tucker wound up getting into three games during the regular season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per night. He made one four-minute appearance during the playoffs.
The Knicks hold a $3.5MM team option on Tucker for next season that must be exercised by June 29. Even if they pick it up, Tucker’s contract won’t become guaranteed until the league-wide guarantee date of January 10, 2026.
I am also not retiring from basketball and will likely play as many minutes as PJ next year.
Tucker’s salary for the coming year was designed to be used in a trade, and would be guaranteed to the extent necessary for that. He’d be a fool to retire prior to that playing out.
“He’d be a fool to retire prior to that playing out.”
Unless they name him head coach!
While it’s slightly possible he’s traded, it’s probably more likely they decline his Team Option and re-sign him at the minimum (saves a few tax dollars) to be the team’s Udonis Haslem / James Johnson / Taj Gibson.
Taj played 37 games last year. 40 the year before that.
Tucker played 3 games this year. Haslem played 35 games in his last 5 years.
Not an apt comparision.
PJ Tucker played 232 games in his last 5 years (197 more than Haslem), this is a stupid AF sword to die on.
The point is he’d be signed for the locker room rather than on-court contributions.
Also Gibson played 20 games last year goofy.
If his salary is not used in a trade they will release him which means he will retire unless he can make it as a walk on in training camp
Knicks would resign him in a minute at the minimum. They love him as a veteran presence at the end of the bench. Future assistant coach.
I don’t think so. The Tucker contract has Aller’s fingerprints all over it. The 3.5 mm is only about 200K above the minimum. Not an accident. If the NYK exercises the option, the salary of 3.5 mm is still non-guaranteed. So, they can still release him at any time prior to the season and pay nothing. Or they can use him in a trade and guaranty only so much of that 3.5 mm that is required for matching.
Why would a veteran player agree to give a team an option, and, even if its exercised, he’d still be entitled to nothing guaranteed? Someone indicated he might get a payday for nothing, like the guys the NYK traded to CHA in the KAT deal. Basically, he is retired in that he’s home now and doesn’t have to leave his couch.
You’ll be late before January
This post title made me laugh audibly. Well done.
Why would he retire and PAY for a membership to play basketball at Lifetime Fitness, when he could be on an NBA roster, exercise at an NBA facility, and get Row 1 seats to watch 82 NBA games… and GET paid to do that?
His contract was another dumb move by Morey. Gave him a 3yr deal at 37.
I always assumed he signed him as a way to help get Harden to agree to less money.
That is precisely what happened, not that it will stop anyone from their revisionist history.
Morey is literally the worst front office employee in any of the major 4 sports. He is a net negative everywhere. Just a soulless nepo with no talent for the job at all. He should be blacklisted from the NBA.
“Pj Tucker demands trade to LA so his bench spot will be closer to shoe stores”
PJ’s got some questionable fashion sense.
link to facebook.com
I am retiring…to my living room, for some cognac and snacks!