If James Harden’s departure signaled a new direction for the Rockets, Wednesday’s trade of P.J. Tucker was the final confirmation. Eric Gordon is the only member of Houston’s 2018 conference finals team still on the roster. The Rockets are firmly in asset acquisition mode as we approach the March 25 trade deadline, a stark shift from where they stood just one season ago. Life on the other side of the Harden era isn’t exactly glamorous.
Tucker will join the Bucks later this week, with D.J. Wilson and D.J. Augustin coming back to Houston.