NBA Trade Grades: Toronto Raptors Add P.J. Tucker From Phoenix Suns
Toronto Raptors
It’s safe to say that signing Jared Sullinger to a one-year deal last summer didn’t exactly pan out for the Raptors. Sully missed most of the season due to injury, and averaged a grand total of 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game over his 11 appearances with the team.
Shipping him off as cap filler was not surprising, especially after landing Serge Ibaka, but being able to scoop up a defensive ace like P.J. Tucker makes this deal even better.
True enough, Tucker’s 7.0 points per game don’t exactly leap off the page, but the Raptors are adding him to bolster their 18th-ranked defense. It’s there that his 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game will make a difference.
Tucker checks off a lot of boxes. Gives Raps much-needed depth on wing, tough/physical defender, experience (at 31 he's their oldest player)
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 23, 2017
Toronto doesn’t need him to score much with Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and Serge Ibaka likely to command shots. But if he can come in off the bench, guard multiple positions with his trademark effort and knock down a couple open threes to replace Terrence Ross, Toronto could be very dangerous.
Tucker is only shooting 33.8 percent from three-point range this season, but don’t forget, the last time he played for a winning team in 2013-14, he shot 38.7 percent from deep as a regular corner three threat.
The Raptors got Ibaka and Tucker for Ross, Sullinger, a 1st, and 2 2nds, AND kept a 1st in loaded 2017 draft.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) February 23, 2017
Having a body like Tucker to throw at someone like LeBron James behind DeMarre Carroll definitely won’t hurt, and it’s frightening to think about how much effort he’ll give on a winning team after slaving away for so many losing Suns teams.
The fact that the Raptors were able to hold out and avoid sending Phoenix another first round pick after giving one up in the Ibaka deal is another victory. Second round picks are more valuable than people think, but with the Cavs looking vulnerable and Toronto going all in on Ibaka, it made sense to really go all in on challenging Cleveland.
Next: 2017 NBA Trade Deadline: Grades For All 30 Teams
P.J. Tucker might not be a playoff hero, and he could very well be a three-month rental since his free agency aligns with Kyle Lowry’s and Serge Ibaka’s, but he’ll bolster the Raptors bench and provide his trademark defense against any playoff opponent.
Grade: A