NBA Free Agency 2017: One signing every team should make

Oklahoma City Thunder: P.J. Tucker

There’s a chance that the Oklahoma City Thunder could re-sign Andre Roberson. If that were to happen, than pursuing a player like P.J. Tucker in NBA free agency is a far less attractive move. However, operating under the assumption that the Thunder would rather upgrade coming off of Russell Westbrook’s MVP season rather than stand pat with Roberson, Tucker is a player that would allow the Thunder to make that happen.

Comparing the two players (Roberson and Tucker), it’s virtually a wash on the defensive end of the floor in terms of their efficacy on that end of the floor. Both players are capable of providing versatility on the defensive end, locking up multiple positions and doing a variety of things well. Where Tucker has the clear edge, however, is as an offensive player.

To put it bluntly, Roberson is often a liability when the Thunder have the ball. He’s hardly reliable in terms of his shooting, displaying inconsistency in that regard. That’s not an issue with Tucker, who also has a versatile and balanced skill set as an offensive player as well. What’s more, Tucker is also a reliable free throw shooter, something that was an issue late in games for Oklahoma City in the case of Roberson.

Adding a balanced and all-around player like Tucker would be huge for helping the Thunder to improve heading into the 2017-18 season. He’d be an upgrade over Roberson in terms of what he could offer overall, even if they don’t necessarily play the same position. As such, the team would be able to progress.