PJ Tucker was frustrated that he had not been changed; The return to the Houston Rockets is uncertain

PJ Tucker, the Houston Rockets striker, increasingly frustrated that he has not yet been replaced by a competitor, was a healthy scratch Thursday night and uncertainty remains as to when he will return to the lineup, sources told ESPN .

The rockets have had several competing trade talks with teams in recent weeks involving Tucker, talks expected to lead to an agreement for Tucker before the March 25 trading deadline, sources said.

The Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams that have discussed possible deals with the Rockets in recent weeks, sources said.

So far, the Rockets ’preference for a young and productive rotation player in trade discussions has been a point of contact with teams, who have not been willing to part with this type of asset for a 35-year-old on a contract that expires, sources said.

The missiles were invaded by injuries and fell 125-105 to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night for the 14th straight loss.

Tucker traveled to the Sacramento with the Rockets and warmed up before the game, but did not fit to join the team on the bench. He had not been included in the injury report.

The 35-year-old Tucker was a key player during his 3-year tenure with the Rockets, contributing significantly more than his 6.5-point averages and 5.8 rebounds per game indicate. He often defended the opponent’s goal scorer – playing in the center, despite being only 6 feet-5 during Houston’s short-term short ball experiment last season – and served primarily as a threat. of 3 corner points that spaced the offensive floor. Tucker is in the final season of a $ 32 million, $ 32 million transaction. The Rockets did not guarantee the last year of the transaction until February 2020.

Tucker, who played in 267 games in a row until a bruised thigh knocked him out for two games in February, reported late to training camp this fall and admitted he felt unappreciated after talks about extending the contract broke down. .

The Rockets thought they were close to signing Tucker for a two-year extension for $ 17 million, with $ 10 million guaranteed, sources said, but the Houston front office contradicted after his camp Tucker countered with a proposal for a $ 24 million fully guaranteed two-year contract. .

Tucker battled the Rockets this season, following in the footsteps of Russell Westbrook and James Harden, recording career lows in points per game (4.4), field goal percentage (36.6%) and of 3 points (31.4%).