Brisbane Legend: 'Target Tucker'

Brisbane Bullets legend Derek Rucker believes his former club needs to chase the signature of star Free Agent, Rayjon Tucker.

Tucker is coming off a strong season with Melbourne United where he amassed 18.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while showcasing his incredible athleticism and intensity.

Brisbane has had a strong start to free agency, adding locals Isaac White and Sam McDaniel, but Rucker says nailing a high level import is now the priority. 

“These import spots, they must hit. If Rayjon isn’t going to be picked up by Melbourne United, which I can’t see is a possibility given the dollars are going to crunch, they’ve got to go after Rayjon Tucker,” Rucker told The Marketplace.

“He’s exciting, he’s athletic, he’s an offensive weapon.

“If I were Brisbane, I’d be contacting him as soon as I got a sniff that he wouldn’t be returning to Melbourne, and offer him a two-year deal, fully guaranteed.”

ESPN newsbreaker Olgun Uluc mentioned the Bullets’ budget, and the need for a starting point guard could make it tough to land Tucker.

“The money that’s locked into Nathan Sobey and into Aron Baynes, that really handcuffs this team when it comes to bringing in high quality imports,” Uluc explained.

“Rayjon Tucker after the back-end of his season, he’d be demanding a decent amount of coin, so where do you want to commit that big chunk of money?

“They probably only have one big chunk of money? Do you spend it on Rayjon Tucker, who is relatively proven in the NBL and I think would be really, really good in a second season? Or do you spend it on a point guard? We probably know that Nathan Sobey needs a point guard next to him to be effective … what would happen if you don’t commit that money to a really high quality point guard, and then you have another losing season?

“It’s the sort of thing you think the Bullets almost have to do, is to focus on that point guard position.”

McDaniel, Baynes, Sobey, White, Tyrell Harrison and DJ Mitchell are contracted to Brisbane for next season.