Former Rockets fan favorite clearly on thin ice with new team after NBA Draft

Few players epitomized Houston Rockets basketball during 2010s more than P.J. Tucker. As James Harden stole headlines and racked up awards, Tucker was the glue to a team that relied heavily on his defensive versatility and corner-three mastery.

Unfortunately for Tucker, his current team's activity seems to imply that his future with the New York Knicks could be more limited than desired.

New York selected Kobe Sanders at No. 50 overall, but traded the former Nevada Wolfpack standout to the LA Cippers. In exchange, the Knicks landed French forward Mohamed Diawara and the draft rights to the No. 60 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Luka Mitrović.

The acquisition of Diawara and Mitrović appear to have revealed the Knicks' plan: Stash their 2025 picks overseas in order to conserve roster and cap space.

With this in mind, it's fair to question what other methods New York might enlist to create offseason flexibility. It reached the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals and is now a heavy favorite to make the 2026 NBA Finals in the aftermath of injuries sustained by Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum.

If the Knicks are, in fact, attempting to create space to bolster their roster in pursuit of an elusive championship, then declining Tucker's club option could be their next move.

Rockets fan favorite PJ Tucker has club option with Knicks for 2025-26

Tucker is owed a minimum-level salary of $3,468,960, which one would likely presume the Knicks would have no trouble accepting. New York is currently $3,833,184 over the first apron, however, which prevents it from offering the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

The Knicks could thus realistically look to trade lower-cost contracts in order to get below the second apron—and Tucker's potentially expiring deal could be an attractive option.

By packaging Tucker with another player on a low-cost deal, New York could potentially make a move to get below the first apron. That would expand their options immensely in free agency, especially as they search for ideal depth.

In 2024-25, the Knicks' second unit ranked dead last points per game—a fact that can't be exclusively attributed to Tom Thibodeau's rotations.

New York is in dire need of improved perimeter depth, with the trio of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart operating as the only source of dependable quality along the wings. The mid-level exception could provide the path to achieving exactly that.

Tucker could contest that belief by thriving in his own right, but with 34 games played over the past two seasons, there's reason for skepticism.

That could be good news for the Rockets, however, as Tucker could join Jeff Green as invaluable leaders in the locker room. It's unlikely that he'll play big minutes in 2025-26, but his history with Houston could be valuable nevertheless.

Regardless of what transpires, the Knicks' need for flexibility has it in dire need of change—and Tucker could be on the way out because of it.