Ex-Bucks forward P.J. Tucker. (Ebony Cox/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Veteran forward P.J. Tucker penned a message to Milwaukee after leaving for Miami in free agency, implying the Bucks didn’t want to pay him after his title contribution.
P.J. Tucker’s time in Milwaukee was short and sweet. He was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in March and played a key role in the team winning an NBA championship in July.
Sadly, it seems the nature of his exit has left a bad taste in his mouth.
Tucker signed with the Miami Heat on an affordable two-year, $15 million deal on Monday a few hours into NBA free agency. He posted a message to Bucks fans on his Instagram after the shocking move.
“Wow.. I’m still a little lost for words to be honest. Still in shook but it is what it is. Today took a hard turn on the road of my career but like my grandma used to tell me..all you can control is what you can control,” Tucker wrote.
P.J. Tucker was apparently caught off-guard by the Bucks in free agency
Tucker added some serious love toward Bucks fans:
“With that being said Milwaukee..the city of MILWAUKEE!!!! You will never fully understand what y’all mean to me. Our time together however short will hold some of the best memories of my life forever. You took me in and had my back throughout our journey and I will FOREVER be grateful and hold you near to my heart. I can’t thank y’all enough. WE WILL ALWAYS BE DAWKS! #historyinthemaking #wesomedawgs4L.”
Before free agency opened, Gery Woelfel reported the Bucks were expected to offer Tucker a two-year deal worth $20 million.
He ended up signing a two-year deal worth $15 million in Miami. So that first offer likely never materialized.
His Instagram post certainly makes it seem like the Bucks didn’t make a serious attempt to keep him around.