PJ Tucker On Joining Heat: ‘I Like Our Chances’

Veteran small forward P.J. Tucker is officially a member of the Heat and from the sounds of things, he couldn’t be more excited.

“When you’re a free agent, you’re looking for a fit, coaching styles, team styles, and this [team] is exactly what I do,” Tucker said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “Last year, I trained in Miami. So this has been a long time coming. I’m super excited.”

Tucker is coming off a season in which he started for the reigning champion Bucks, before reaching an offseason deal with the Heat in free agency. He was traded to the Bucks from the Rockets in March.

Tucker and Kyle Lowry are the two big offseason additions in Miami. Star guard/forward Jimmy Butler has also agreed to a four-year contract extension.

“I like our chances. I like our team. We have a tough team with guys that get after it,” Tucker said, via Jackson. “It’s going to be fun. You look at our roster, we’re going to be a tough, gritty team, guys that play two-ways, can switch multiple positions.

“More than anything, I can see us being united. Guys who are like minded and play the same way. If you have a bunch of guys like that on the same team, you have special things happening.”

Tucker, 36, averaged just 3.7 points and 3.9 rebounds last season, but remains one of the NBA’s top defenders and utility men. He is expected to be a strong fit next to Butler, Lowry and power forward Bam Adebayo.

“I’ve guarded Jimmy Butler for years now and everyone knows his competitive edge,” Tucker said. “He brings it every single night. He’s going to bring that mentality to the team and that’s by far the No. 1 thing I’m excited about playing with Jimmy.”

The Heat are also bringing back guard Victor Oladipo, it was reported recently.