NBA Trade Rumors: Bucks Complete Deal To Acquire Rockets Junkyard Dog

The Milwaukee Bucks will be the NBA team that will win the services of P.J. Tucker of the Houston Rockets in a multiplayer deal.

In Tucker, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer will get a much-needed role player that can do the little things that the team needs for its playoff push.

Citing sources, ESPN reports that Bucks general manager Jon Horst’s persistence on the 35-year-old veteran finally paid off. A deal was allegedly struck with Rockets general manager Rafael Stone on Wednesday afternoon.

Milwaukee will be sending D.J. Augustine and D.J. Wilson to Houston alongside Rodions Kurucs per sources. However, the redirecting of draft picks the two clubs had in the offseason will also be instrumental in getting the NBA trade deal done.

The Rockets will be pushing back the 2022 first-round pick Milwaukee owes it to the unprotected 2023 draft. From there, the Rockets will have the right to swap their 2021 second-round pick for the Bucks' 2021 first-round pick.

However, this also depends on the Bucks' record, especially if they fall to 1-9 in the next NBA Draft.

Tucker has been someone on multiple NBA teams’ radars, and the Rockets made it clear that they wanted young players over picks.

A reason behind this is that the Rockets are plagued by injuries and some of their main stars don’t appear to be sticking around.

Since the departure of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, the Rockets find themselves in a rebuilding campaign. Tucker has been vital for the Rockets in the past, but his age has limited contract extension options.

Furthermore, it will be recalled that Houston tried to re-sign Tucker, but the veteran wanted something different.

Aside from the Tucker deal, Milwaukee will also be dealing away Torrey Craig to the Phoenix Suns in a separate transaction. The 30-year-old swingman failed to crack the rotation of Budenholzer after getting signed from the Denver Nuggets.

Phoenix will not be sending any player in exchange for the 2017 NBL Defensive Player of the Year, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported.

With Tucker out, all eyes are on other players like Victor Oladipo. As part of the blockbuster Harden trade, the 28-year-old has been linked to different teams.

He is also on the final year of his four-year $85 million deal and will become an unrestricted free agent in the NBA off-season.