The Los Angeles Clippers are giving their disgruntled players P.J. Tucker and Bones Hyland some time off. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, both Tucker and Hyland were sent home and will re-join the team after the All-Star break.
Tucker and Hyland haven’t been part of the Clippers’ rotation for a while, and both players expressed frustration about their roles on the team. This was particularly the case with Tucker, who was at one point given permission to seek a trade to a team that would give him more playing time.
Trade talks surrounding Tucker never caught traction, and he remained in LA after the NBA trade deadline passed. It is unlikely that he will receive a buyout, considering his $11.5 million player option next season could make him a trade asset for the Clippers.
Since joining the franchise as part of the James Harden trade from the Philadelphia 76ers on November 1, Tucker only played 12 games for the Clippers. His last appearance came on November 28, when he played eight minutes in a 113-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Since then, he hasn’t entered a single game.
Charania reports that Tucker had constructive conversations with Clippers’ head coach Ty Lue in recent days and that he could return to the rotation after the All-Star break. Lue values Tucker’s experience and believes he could help the team when playoffs arrive.
The path for Hyland to receive more playing time seems less certain. The 23-year-old played 19 games this season, averaging 6.2 points per game.
