The Philadelphia 76ers have loaded up for this season, but the team has already been bit by the injury bug early on. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George have been sidelined in the early going, and as a result, the team is expected to have a slow start to what has been anticipated to be an eventful campaign for the franchise.
While the team is more equipped more than ever to take the blow on the injury front, depth is only as functional as pegged when the team is at full strength. Right now, whatever depth they have had been sapped by players being prompted to fill-in, weakening the bench.
To avert that, it seems like the front office is already getting in on the trade action as the 76ers have recently been linked to a familiar name.
76ers rumored to pursue trade to reunite with PJ Tucker
As reported by The Athletic’s Kelly Iko, Philadelphia is one of four teams currently exploring the idea of trading for PJ Tucker, the veteran forward who has become sequestered from the Clippers, albeit voluntarily, as both sides seek to find a workable trade to send him elsewhere.
Tucker, who played for the 76ers from 2022 to 2023, was traded last season alongside James Harden to LA, but what initially seemed like a well-fitting partnership with the Clippers quickly soured. The veteran simply couldn’t find his dynamic, even on defense, with the star-studded squad. Now, he remains on the lookout for another home to ring chase with.
The 76ers pursuing Tucker is a bit surprising, but perhaps a manifestation of the team’s need for bulk and depth at forward. Guerschon Yabusele is the lone natural power forward on the roster, and George’s absence has magnified that lack of size on such a crucial position.
While virtually useless offensively, Tucker can still be a menacing defender who can guard nearly anyone thanks to his deceptive speed, sheer bulk, and ample experience. The 76ers wouldn’t need him to function any more than that anyway, making him a pretty tenable trade target for the club.