The 76ers are getting the man Joel Embiid wanted, thanks in part to James Harden.
An NBA source said the Sixers expect to finalize an agreement with veteran power forward P.J. Tucker, who helped the Heat beat the Sixers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, this weekend. It will be a three-year, $33 million contract and was first reported by the Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, who said the sides came to an agreement shortly after Thursday night’s start of free agency.
The 37-year-old Tucker brings toughness and a defensive mindset that Embiid said he believes the Sixers have lacked in their repeated second-round playoff losses.
“Since I’ve been here, I’d be lying if I said we had those type of guys,” said Embiid after the season-ending Game 6 defeat to Miami. “Nothing against what we have — it’s just the truth. We never have P.J. Tucker.”
Since the Sixers are utilizing the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $10.4 million on Tucker, they cannot exceed the luxury tax apron of $157 million during the 2022-23 season.
Harden’s decision to opt out of his $47.4 million option for next year and his apparent willingness to take a multiyear contract worth $10 million less created the space for the Sixers to sign Tucker.
They also used the $4.2 million biannual exception on 29-year-old forward Danuel House, who averaged 5.9 points and shot .376 from 3-point land for three teams last season. He is the type of 3-and-D wing the Sixers lacked in 2021-22. House’s deal is for two years.
NBA G League MVP Trevelin Queen agreed to a two-year contract with the Sixers, with part of the first year guaranteed. The 6-6 Queen averaged 25.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3.4 steals during the regular season for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Taking one for the team:James Harden opts out of $47 million, plans to take less money
Big moment approaches:Will Sixers sign a player or make a trade first when free agency begins?
Figuring it out:Sixers, Daryl Morey have options to upgrade roster around star Joel Embiid
A $37 million salary for Harden in 2022-23, coupled with Tucker and House, should put the Sixers’ payroll at roughly $156 million for the 15-man roster.
President of basketball operations Daryl Morey, who acquired Harden, Tucker and House when he was the Houston general manager — the three played together for two seasons (2018-19 and 2019-20) — didn’t want to dump salaries of players to create room for Tucker, which would have affected the Sixers’ depth.
The 6-foot-5 Tucker, who started at power forward for the Heat, averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot .415 from 3-point range during the regular season.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
