Los Angeles Lakers: A trade proposal for P.J. Tucker

What’s in it for the Los Angeles Lakers?

In an NBA era where every big persona looks out for their own personal gain, often leaving the benefit of the team stranded, players like P.J. Tucker do not grow on trees.

Tucker is an exceptional defender that can lock up even the best of ’em around the league. From stars like Trae Young, all the way to some serious MVP candidates like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, it seems like everybody around the league has been a Tucker-victim. Heck, even Anthony Davis suffered a bit during the 2020 playoffs.

P.J. Tucker is a rare breed. He is a player that will give you his blood, sweat and tears on the defensive end, only to require just a few offensive touches per game. This is a great contradiction to the majority of the NBA who choose to do the exact opposite.

The saying “defense wins you championships” is one that could be echoed around LA in a few months due to Tucker’s impact on the team. With an aging LeBron, having a teammate that can guard almost all five positions would go a long way.

Last but not least–and perhaps most importantly–if the Los Angeles Lakers don’t go out and trade for P.J., then someone else will. Going up against him and the defenseless Houston Rockets may have seemed like an easy feat, but the thought of him being added to a clamping team like the LA Clippers or the Miami Heat appears to be terrifying.