The Los Angeles Clippers are trading disgruntled veteran PJ Tucker and former first-round pick Mo Bamba to the Utah Jazz in a deal involving multiple players and a draft pick, ESPN reported on Saturday.
The Clippers reportedly will get young center Drew Eubanks and veteran guard Patty Mills in return for Tucker, center Bamba, a future second-round pick and cash considerations.
The move largely is an exchange of bench players, but it brings the Clippers $4 million below the luxury tax threshold, giving them more flexibility ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline.
Additionally, the trade finally resolves the ongoing dispute between Tucker and the Clippers. Tucker hasn’t been active with the team since early October, when the two sides agreed to find a new “situation” for the veteran forward after he expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with his limited role with the Clippers.
Tucker, 39, was part of the trade that sent James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Clippers in November 2023. He played in just 28 games for the Clippers, making seven starts, and averaged 1.6 points and 2.5 rebounds for his new team.
Tucker briefly spent time away from the team last February while frustrated with his limited role and critical of the Clippers in the press. However, he went on to pick up his player option for the 2024-25 season, worth $11.5 million, capping a three-year, $33 million contract he had signed with Philadelphia.
Bamba was the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, with whom he spent four-plus seasons. He then had brief stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and the 76ers before landing back with the Clippers. He’s averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game through 28 games.
Eubanks, who turns 28 Saturday, signed a two-year deal with the Jazz in the offseason. The Clippers will be Eubanks’ fifth NBA team since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
The 6-foot-9 forward/center is averaging 5.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 15.4 minutes in 360 career games (75 starts) for the San Antonio Spurs (2018-22), the Portland Trail Blazers (2022-23), the Phoenix Suns (2023-24) and the Jazz.
Mills, 36, also just signed with the Jazz in the offseason. He is in his 16th season and playing for his sixth team. He has career averages of 8.8 points, 2.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 909 games (112 starts) with the Trail Blazers (2009-11), Spurs (2011-21), Brooklyn Nets (2021-23), Atlanta Hawks (2023-24) and Miami Heat (2023-24).
Tucker, Bamba and Mills are on expiring contracts. Eubanks is set to make $4.8 million next season but the salary is not guaranteed until January 2026.
–Field Level Media
