Joel Embiid Keen on Adding Veteran NBA Champion to 76ers Lineup Alongside James Harden

The NBA has officially entered its most entertaining phase. Twitter is roaring with trade rumors and players asking for a change in scenery. In a recent report, Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid shows interest in adding veterans to the team.

According to NBA analyst Marc Stein, the Philadelphia 76ers are the obvious favorites to sign P. J. Tucker in free agency. If Tucker leaves the Miami Heat, he would have plenty of suitors, including the 76ers. Joel Embiid strongly wishes to team up with the veteran forward. Tucker will probably enter the free-agent market as he is bound to reject his $7.4 million.

In the 71 regular-season games he participated in for Miami last season, Tucker started 70 of them. He also participated in 18 postseason games. During the regular season, he averaged 7.6- and 5.5 and a career-best 41.5 percent from the three-point range.

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Tucker’s proficiency lies in his defense. He is also a great piece to add to a team contending in the playoffs. He has had playoff stints with Houston, Bucks, and Heat in recent years. Undoubtedly, Tucker and Harden’s chemistry was off the charts during his prime years. It can be assumed that this is why Joel wishes to recruit the Veteran power-forward.

What makes PJ tucker valuable to Joel Embiid

Tucker is not a player that shows up on the stat sheet. He plays with the mentality to win and plays selfless basketball. His teammates speak very highly of him. John Wall once dived into what makes P. J. Tucker a special player.

Wall said, “PJ may not show up in the stat sheets, but all of the stuff he does and communicating on the defensive end and taking that challenge, that?s a guy you want to have on your team.”

“What he does for our team is what we need, and he has that veteran presence to take the challenge against anybody, battling and getting rebounds. If he gets five shots or zero shots, he?s still gonna be that same guy, and that?s what you appreciate about a guy like him,” he added.

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Jim Lynam, an NBA analyst on NBC Philadelphia, feels P. J. Tucker, and Bradley Beal are big names that could help the Sixers. Lynam says “He’s a hard-nosed guy. He can mix it up with the corner three. He’s a good defender. He’s one of those kinds of guys. He has a little Draymond Green in him. He knows how to just defend. But he knows how to bother people. He would be an asset. But he is 37 years old. So I’d be a little reluctant to a long-term contract, meaning three years.”

His value to Embiid lies in replacing Ben Simmons on the defensive end as the Sixers were exposed defensively in the playoffs. Tucker also can bring about the best from James Harden as he had his best years in Houston with the Miami heat forward.