Image Source: Fox News
[Saba Sports News] PJ Tucker is standing firm against a buyout from the LA Clippers without financial concessions, yet he now faces a financial penalty from the NBA. The league announced on Thursday that it has fined the Clippers’ veteran forward $75,000 for publicly stating his wish to be traded.
Tucker, who joined the Clippers in early November through a trade involving James Harden with the Philadelphia 76ers, struggled in his initial 12 games, averaging just 1.2 points on 28.6 percent shooting. Subsequently, he was removed from the Clippers’ playing rotation as the team shifted focus towards younger, more athletic players.
The decision to sideline him led Tucker to seek a trade, a quest that proved fruitless due to the lack of interest in his contract, which runs through 2025 at over $11 million annually. Following the unsuccessful trade attempt and a frustrated social media post, Tucker was sent home by the Clippers before the All-Star break. The NBA’s fine stems from comments Tucker made, which were highlighted in a February 5 podcast by ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, where Tucker expressed a clear desire to be traded.
Despite the setback and his refusal to negotiate a buyout that would involve forfeiting a portion of his salary, Tucker’s situation remains unresolved, and he is now $75,000 poorer due to the fine.