Report: Celtics interested in acquiring P.J. Tucker

It was only a matter of time until the Boston Celtics - the team with perhaps the most assets to make a deal - and Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker - a player heavily rumored to get moved ahead of the Feb. 23 trade deadline - were linked.

The Celtics have expressed "deep interest" in the 31-year-old veteran, a source told the Sporting News' Sean Deveney.

Boston appears ready, willing, and able to pull the trigger on acquiring a superstar talent such as Chicago Bulls wing Jimmy Butler, although talks between the two parties reportedly haven't gotten very far. Tucker presents the Celtics an opportunity to land a bruising perimeter defender who wouldn't cost an arm and a leg, unlike Butler.

Phoenix is only 0.8 points better defensively per 100 possessions when Tucker is on the floor, but in his defense (no pun intended), the Suns as a whole are fourth from the bottom in the Association at that end of the floor.

He's on an expiring $5.3-million contract and hits unrestricted free agency this summer.

Any team going after Tucker should be aware of his offensive limitations, as he's never averaged more than 9.4 points in a season, and converted under 42 percent of his field-goal attempts this year and last.

Through 57 appearances this campaign for the lowly 18-39 Suns, Tucker is contributing seven points, six rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in 28.5 minutes per game.