Deal for Tucker

“I want to thank Jason Hart for being a consummate professional with us,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “This was a very hard trade to make precisely because Jason has been so helpful to our team both on and off the court. We wish him well.

“We are eager to have Alando join us this week. Everything we know about him is that he is a hard working young man who has not had the opportunity for significant playing time.

In two-plus years with Phoenix, Tucker played in 47 games including 11 this season in which he averaged 3.9 points in 6.5 minutes.

Hart appeared in only one game for the young and rebuilding Timberwolves this season. The nine-year veteran served as a mentor of sorts for younger point guards Jonny Flynn and Ramon Sessions.

Phoenix traded Tucker and a conditional second-round pick to Minnesota for Jason Hart, a point guard with a non-guaranteed deal that the Suns will waive. Minnesota gets the Suns’ second-round pick in the June draft unless it falls in the top 40. In that case, Minnesota would receive the Cleveland second-round pick that is owed to the Suns.

The Suns will pay the remainder of Tucker’s $1.07 million salary and give the Timberwolves an additional $100,000. The Suns’ savings come from how much less they will be taxed for being over the luxury tax threshold.

At 6’6 and 205 lbs., Tucker never really found a role with the Suns on the court, but was known as a great guy to have in the locker room.

“We want to thank Alando for his service to our organization,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr in a press release. “He is a high-character person who has been a good teammate and a hard worker since arriving in Phoenix and we appreciate all of his efforts. We wish him well in Minnesota.”