Midway through the 2024-25 season, the New York Knicks signed P.J. Tucker to a minimum contract. He had impressed during his two 10-day deals and provided veteran leadership on the bench and in the locker room.
However, with Tom Thibodeau now out of work and a new head coach yet to replace him, the Knicks front office is making roster decisions on the fly. One of those decisions has been to activate the team option on Tucker’s contract. Therefore, he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Ian Begley broke the news with a June 29 post on X.
“The Knicks are exercising the $1.9 million team option on center Ariel Hukporti, league sources tell SNY,” Begley reported. “New York is planning to decline the $3.4 million team option on veteran PJ Tucker, per league sources.”
Tucker suited up for the Knicks on 3 occasions last season. He averaged three points and 2.7 rebounds. However, it was his experience and leadership that held the most value. Very few players in the NBA have been around as long as he has, and even fewer have a championship ring to show for their troubles.
Carmelo Anthony Wanted Tucker to Play in Playoffs
In an April 17 episode of his “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Kincks’ legend Carmelo Anthony called for P.J. Tucker to be in Thibodeau’s rotation.
“We got to be ready to crash out in a way, controlled crash out,” Anthony said. “If [head coach Tom Thibodeau] utilized PJ, you could throw PJ in there to go battle [Jalen] Duren and [Isaiah] Stewart. P’s ready, that’s his type of game. He loves that type of physical [stuff], he loves when the game just goes and he can [mess] somebody up…He also knows the playoffs, he knows how to navigate. I just hope gets a shot. At least give him a shot.”
Tucker brings physicality and experience to the floor. He could have easily ate 5-10 minutes per night and provided an edge to the second unit. However, at 39 years old, it’s unlikely he would have been much of a positive asset when defending in space or if he was hunted by the offense.
Tucker Understood His Role With The Knicks
In a March 10 interview with Stefan Bondy on the New York Post, Tucker discussed what his role looks like within New York’s locker room.
“It’s actually easy [being a leader on a 10-day contract],” Tucker said. “Because most of the young guys — like right now before I came to talk to you [media] guys, we were sitting on the court and I was talking to guys, talking about the situation that’s going to happen [against the Kings], what the team needs, how we can get better, what we need to do. And so it’s funny how they kind of just come to you, gravitate to you, being that voice of reason.”
With Tucker now leaving the Knicks, the franchise must find a new veteran leader to help keep things on track. Of course, New York doesn’t need to find that leader right away. Instead, they will likely wait until mid-way through the season, when whoever is leading the team can decide what is missing from the current rotation.
