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Knicks Trade Rumors: Five Reasons To Pursue P.J. Tucker

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Domantas Sabonis (3) guards Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) during the second half at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeat the Suns 114-101. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Domantas Sabonis (3) guards Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) during the second half at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeat the Suns 114-101. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek and Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) look on against the Utah Jazz at US Airways Center. The Suns won 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek and Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) look on against the Utah Jazz at US Airways Center. The Suns won 87-85. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Experience Under Jeff Hornacek

New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek is attempting to build a team with an identity. The hurdle in doing so is that he’s coaching a roster that he was previously unfamiliar with—and, for that matter, is unfamiliar with itself.

In an attempt to create some measure of stability, the Knicks could hand Hornacek a defensive-minded player with whom he’s familiar: P.J. Tucker.

Hornacek became familiar with Tucker between 2013-14 and 2015-16, when he was head coach of the Phoenix Suns. Tucker averaged upwards of 30 minutes per game in every one of those seasons and earned a reputation as one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA.

There’s no guaranteeing that Tucker will continue to perform at a high level in New York, but his experience under Hornacek bodes well for a smooth transition.

New York entered 2016-17 with three new starters and 10 new players overall. That alone was reason to believe that the construction of a contender would be a long and grueling process, but there’s also reason to believe that the process can be expedited.

Hornacek knows what to expect from Tucker, which isn’t something he can say about the players he has less than 40 games of experience with.

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