The Milwaukee Bucks added a significant piece to their roster as part of their attempts to finally get out of the Eastern Conference and play in the NBA Finals. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks made a trade with the Houston Rockets that will land them experienced forward PJ Tucker.
The trade will see Milwaukee acquiring Tucker, forward Rodions Kurucs, and a 2022 first-round pick that the Rockets previously owned. Houston, on the other hand, will get guard DJ Augustin, power forward DJ Wilson, and the Bucks’ first-rounder in 2023.
As part of the deal, the Rockets also get the right to swap their 2021 second-rounder with Milwaukee’s first-round selection.
PJ Tucker and the Rockets agreed earlier this month that it would be in both side’s interest to part ways. Several playoff contenders showed interest in Tucker in recent weeks, but Bucks were reportedly the most aggressive in their pursuit.
Milwaukee most likely expects the 35-year-old veteran to give them a significant boost with his defensive prowess while also providing veteran leadership and valuable playoff experience.
Tucker, who also played for the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns earlier in his career, joined the Rockets ahead of the 2017-18 season. Since then, he was one of the team’s key players thanks to his ability to play multiple positions, guard the opponent’s best players, and hit threes consistently.
