With the whole Markieff Morris situation still ongoing the Phoenix Suns can't be sure whether he will play for them when the season starts. Morris was slated to be the starting power forward for the Suns this season alongside Tyson Chandler in the frontcourt but that isn't a lock like it once was. It is possible Morris gets traded but it's also possible he plays opening night with the Suns. With all of the questions surrounding Morris and the Suns it is being reported that P.J. Tucker might get some time at the power forward position, according to Rollin J. Mason of SB Nation.
Behind Morris on the depth chart at power forward is Mirza Teletovic, who the Suns signed this offseason from the Brooklyn Nets, Jon Leuer and Cory Jefferson. Teletovic would be the favorite to start if Morris weren't around and Jefferson is no lock to make the team so the power forward position without Morris could quickly go from a strength to a weakness.
Tucker is likely going to be the starter at small forward but the Suns would be comfortable putting him at the four when they decide to play a smaller lineup. Head coach Jeff Hornacek compared Tucker to Draymond Green who is the quintessential small four.
"Draymond is kind of like P.J. in terms of his intensity and the things he can do. That is something that we've looked at because P.J. Tucker is similar. He can battle. We've used him in the past on fours. We've put him on DeMarcus Cousins. So that's certainly a situational thing," said Hornacek.
Tucker is just 6 foot-5 but he is a very good defender who is tough and strong and obviously Hornacek has confidence in him to guard bigger players. Hornacek though also made it clear that Tucker wouldn't be spending too much time at the four as he called it a situational thing. If Tucker does get some time at the four he should be able to hold his own defensively, rebound well and stretch the defense offensively as he is a career 36 percent three point shooter.
Tucker is now 30 years old and entering his fourth season with the Suns but his role seems to keep getting bigger. Over the past two years Tucker has averaged more than 9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in just over 30 minutes and the fact that he may play power forward more often this year shouldn't hurt him or the Suns one bit.
