NBA Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz Surrounding Paul Millsap, Andrew Bogut and More

The NBA season features plenty of time for a team to change its fortunes after a bad start, but most teams know what they have and don’t have at this point in the year.

Almost halfway into the season, the contenders and pretenders are starting to separate themselves. Those who have disappointed to this stage can either start looking toward the future or find ways to upgrade the roster.

The Feb. 23 trade deadline is still over a month away, but it is never too soon to improve your team. Here are some players who could help out a contender in the coming weeks.

P.J. Tucker to the Knicks?

The New York Knicks are reeling with six straight losses to fall to 16-19 on the season. While there is talent on the roster, defense remains a major issue while allowing 108.4 points per game.

Head coach Jeff Hornacek hasn’t liked what he has seen from the performance on that side of the ball.

“I don’t think our guys aren’t trying. Maybe we’re just not capable of it. I don’t know,” he said this week, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com.

The solution appears to be adding someone who is capable of playing defense, which is reportedly the plan. Begley reported the Knicks front office has targeted Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker for a potential trade before the deadline.

While Tucker has never put up big numbers in his career, he is a strong on-ball defender with the size and strength at 6’6″, 245 pounds. to handle players on the perimeter. He also has a lot of familiarity with Hornacek after playing for him the past three seasons in Phoenix.

The coach obviously liked something about his play, as Tucker started 224 of his 241 games under Hornacek.

With Tucker on the final year of his contract and the Suns far out of the playoff …

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