P.J. Tucker Opens Up on Clippers Frustrations amid Rumors: 'I Didn't Ask to Be Here'

Los Angeles Clippers forward P.J. Tucker opened up on his frustrations with his role, saying he feels he should not have to deal with his ongoing lack of playing time because he did not want to be with the team in the first place.

"I feel like I shouldn't have to go through this," Tucker told ClutchPoints' Tomer Azarly. "I didn't ask to be here. I didn't ask for and I didn't demand a trade to be here."

Tucker was sent to the Clippers alongside James Harden in October. The veteran forward was essentially add-on fodder and salary-dumped onto the Clippers, who took on Tucker's $11.5 million player option for next season to bring Harden together with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

The Clippers provided Tucker with extended minutes early in his tenure before jettisoning him from the rotation in November amid poor play. Tucker had not scored in six straight games when he was finally pulled from the rotation entirely on Nov. 27.

The Clippers explored trade talks for Tucker over the next two-plus months but could not find a taker, in large part due to the $11.5 million he's owed next season. A buyout also is not an option due to that salary, which Tucker will almost certainly take.

At age 38, Tucker is already a depreciating asset whose time in the NBA is rapidly dwindling. Sitting him on the bench and having him miss months of game action is only going to hasten his decline.

"When you've got guys like PJ, who have another year left on his deal, he can ride off into the sunset, he's 70 years old," Clippers coach Ty Lue told reporters Wednesday. "But he wants to play, he wants to compete. And so you understand that you want guys like that. So the trade didn't happen, they're going to be here. So we're just gonna give them a little time off, get their minds right and come back [for] Oklahoma City and be ready to go."

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Tucker will spend the All-Star break away from the team and hopes to return to the lineup when the team reconvenes. Guard Bones Hyland, who has also been out of the rotation, was also sent home ahead of the break.