P.J. Tucker was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the fifth overall pick in the second round in 2006, which was the 35th overall pick.
On July 26, 2006, P.J. Tucker signed a two-year contract with the Raptors.
On March 24, 2007, the Raptors announced that they would waive P.J. Tucker.
In the 2006-07 season, Tucker played 17 games for the Raptors, averaging 4.9 minutes per game, 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds.
Obviously, this is a fringe figure in the NBA, and his elimination is inevitable.
Unable to survive in the NBA, Tucker began wandering overseas.
In the 2007-08 season, Tucker played in the Israeli League, helping the team win the league championship and was elected MVP.
In the 2008-09 season, Tucker played for the Donetsk team of the Ukrainian Basketball Super League, ranking first in the league in points per game and helping the team win third place in the league.
In March 2010, Tucker returned to the Israeli league again.
…
Historically, it was not until the summer of 2012 that Tucker received a contract from the Suns.
Two years’ basic salary!
That's all!
Such a talent has never been discovered!
Deng Fang would not miss such an opportunity!
After settling Kirilenko's contract, Deng Fang immediately instructed Tim to contact Tucker.
Comparatively speaking, Tucker is more important than Kirilenko.
But Deng Fang was not in a hurry.
The main reason is that Tucker can handle it better here!
A marginalized person who is wandering overseas and no one wants him is now offered a multi-year contract by an NBA team. Will he disagree?
Isn’t that stupid?!
Regardless of salary, working environment, or even room for improvement, the NBA is the best choice!
What's more, it was the Warriors who offered the contract!
That's the defending champion!
There is the head coach Deng Fang who is best at using substitutes!
The Warriors have more bench minutes than any other team!
How exposed is it to play for the Warriors?
Even if I get less money, I still want to go to the Warriors!
What's more, the Warriors paid a lot of money!
Tucker won't take no for an answer!
This is also true. Without any words, Tim signed a multi-year contract with Tucker.
5 years basic salary!
All guaranteed, no options!
In fact, what Tucker received was not a real minimum salary contract.
If it were a real basic salary contract, Tucker would only receive US$410,000, US$760,000, and US$880,000 in the first three years respectively!
Deng Fang was not so stingy.
Deng Fang instructed Tim to offer Tucker a contract that was much more attractive than the minimum salary:
1 million in the first year, 1.2 million in the second year, 1.4 million in the third year, 1.6 million in the fourth year, and 8 million in the fifth year!
Fully guaranteed, no team options or player options.
A total of 13.2 million in five years!
An average of 2.64 million per year!
That's very high for a player who should be getting hundreds of thousands of dollars!
Tim was a little confused about this.
You could have signed Tucker at a very low price, so why spend more?
Could it be that Deng Fang made a mistake?
After repeated confirmation with Deng Fang, Tim realized that Deng Fang was right and that was what he thought.
Well, you are the boss, you have the final say!
Tim is still very sensible...
If Deng Fang is so generous, Tucker will certainly not have any objections.
Without any hesitation, Tucker signed the contract.
This is a good decision that must be made quickly. What if the Warriors regret it?
Deng Fang has his own plans for Tucker's contract.
Tucker is a very important player, not a role player who plays garbage time in Tim's eyes.
Since they want to be reused, they should be given similar salaries.
Otherwise the players will complain.
Tucker's defense is what Deng Fang values most!
The Warriors' iron-locked bronze formation previously frightened many teams, but now Deng Fang wants to form an even more powerful iron-locking bronze formation!
Tucker is the most important part of it!
With Tucker here, the Warriors can field a five-defense lineup that combines speed and power!
Tucker has speed and strength. He can defend the outside as well as the inside!
This is his biggest advantage!
Deng Fang specifically checked and found that Tucker's height is less than 2 meters. The official data is 1.98 meters, but the barefoot height is actually only 1.96 meters. Why can a player of this size be able to play center?
With a height of 1.96 meters, Tucker's wingspan reaches 2.13 meters, almost close to the size of a center in the league!
It is precisely because of such excellent physical conditions that Tucker can defend multiple positions.
This is also what Deng Fang values most.
Since he needs to be reused, Tucker's playing time will not be less.
Since he plays a lot of playing time, Tucker's statistics will not be bad in the new season.
He has more playing time than others, does more work, and has an important status. But he gets less money, which makes anyone feel uncomfortable.
As long as someone on the team is uncomfortable, there will be problems in the locker room atmosphere.
Even if it's just for the stability of the locker room, Deng Fang has to give Tucker more money.
Not to mention it’s not much higher!
Compared with Kirilenko's big contract, Tucker's contract is already worth a lot!
Be content!
Tucker's contract was settled very easily.
Including Tucker's $1 million next season, the Warriors' total salary is already 55 million.
The salary cap for the new season is 58 million, and the Warriors still have some room!
This is incredible for many strong teams!
After winning the championship last season and strengthening so many players during the offseason, the Warriors actually still have room to sign someone!
So unfair!
They are both NBA teams, so why is the gap so big?
…
By signing Tucker, the Warriors' offseason activities are basically over.
The Warriors' lineup is extremely strong now!
2 centers: Lopez and Jordan.
3 power forwards: Kirilenko, Tucker, Yi Jianlian.
2 small forwards: Prince, Hayward.
3 shooting guards: Azubuike, Laga Bell, Belinelli.
4 point guards: Curry, Lowry, Livingston, Jeremy Lin.
14 players in total!
The NBA stipulates that a team must have a minimum of 12 players and a maximum of 15.
This number is perfect for the Warriors.
There is salary space and a vacant spot. If there is an opportunity in the future, the Warriors can also participate in transactions with other teams and make a fortune!
Of course, that's a story later.
Deng Fang is very satisfied with the Warriors' lineup.
One of the two centers can attack and the other can defend. When playing in the twin towers, Lopez can also be pulled outside to shoot three-pointers. There is no space problem at all.
The three power forwards have their own characteristics. Tucker and Kirilenko can both be used as three or four, and their adaptability is very high.
The two small forwards are also good at offense and defense, and can be used as three or four.
Among the three shooting guards, there is one shooter, and the other two are standard 3D!
Azubuike and Laga Bell can also fill the No. 3 position.
The four guards are equally strong. Let’s not talk about Curry. Lowry and Livingston will have no problem starting in other teams!
Even Jeremy Lin can perform amazingly if he is given the right lineup and enough time!
