After finishing up his 11th season, PJ Tucker is set to test the waters of 2022 NBA Free Agency after recently opting out of his deal with the Miami Heat for next season.
Despite recently turning 37 years old, Tucker will certainly have a robust market, as contending teams league-wide will likely have an interest in him. After all, the veteran forward is coming off one of his most productive seasons to date with the Miami Heat and he is the type of player that every single contender needs due to his intensity, reputable defense, and solid outside shooting.
Teams that feel like they may be a piece or two away could be willing to pay a hefty price to bring in a player like Tucker, so it will be fascinating to see how things play out when free agency begins and where the veteran ultimately inks his signature. With that being said, let us look at five teams that should make a strong run at PJ Tucker when the free agent market opens.
NBA Free Agency: 5 teams for PJ Tucker this offseason: Miami Heat
Just because PJ Tucker declined his player option with the Miami Heat does not mean that he will ultimately not return to South Beach next season. The two parties could negotiate a new deal that would keep the veteran in Miami for the foreseeable future, which should certainly be on the table, given how well Tucker played with the Heat this past season.
The veteran provided some intensity on the defensive side of the basketball while shooting the lights out from three-point range, having his best season to date, many would argue. This is a team that was one game away from making the NBA Finals this past season, and losing a full-time starter like Tucker would be a crushing blow.
As he showed throughout the year, Tucker is one of the best role players in the business, and the Heat will have to pay him like that to keep him, in all likelihood.