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NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For P.J. Tucker

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) dribbles in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) dribbles in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) walks to the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 142-119. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly not opposed to dealing Rudy Gay at the trade deadline, though they’re not desperate to move him. The question is, what ransom would meet Sacramento’s asking price?

The Kings’ ceiling is a first round playoff exit, with Sacramento sitting 3.5 games out of the West’s eighth playoff spot. But this organization is hell-bent on making the playoffs and ending a nine-year postseason drought, so they probably won’t be looking to trade Gay for young players or future draft picks, even if that’d be best for the team’s long-term future.

If that’s the case, adding a 3-and-D competitor like Tucker and a talented power forward on a bargain contract like Markieff Morris might meet Sacramento’s asking price.

This season, Gay is averaging 18.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game on 47.3 percent shooting. He’s not having his best season, and though his versatility in playing the 3 or the 4 makes him valuable, Tucker has that same versatility despite not having the same scoring punch. Fortunately, Keef is still a capable scorer, as he showed in his 30-point performance in his first game under Earl Watson.

If the Kings didn’t want to risk adding another mercurial presence to DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo, perhaps replacing Keef with stretch-4 Mirza Teletovic would be more suitable for Sacramento, especially with the fast tempo that George Karl wants to play at.

In either case, the Suns would be getting a very talented player in Rudy Gay, who is under contract through 2016-17 with a $14.2 million player option for 2017-18.

Gay may not be a part of Phoenix’s long-term plans as they look to rebuild for the umpteenth time, but he’d get the chance to put up monster numbers as the Suns’ No. 1 option, which would help Phoenix trade him for more assets down the road.

With Teletovic being a free agent this summer, Tucker being non-essential to Phoenix’s future plans and Morris’ relationship with the Suns being what it is, this deal would make some sense for both sides, even if the Kings might just prefer to stand pat.

Next: No. 4