This is probably cherry-picking the records (small sample size etc.)...but...

Consider this...

When Tucker was out of the lineup the Avs record was 10-7-2...which is almost a third of the Avs point season of the entire season and if it were sustained the would be on about a 95 point season pace (or about 6th place in the Western Conference last season)

But...When Lappy was out of the lineup this season the Avs record was 2-6...which is on pace for a 41 point season (or one of the worst seasons ever)...

Granted, this is a very basic take (as it does not account for what other players were missing in these periods nor factor out their possible influence nor the strength of schedule)...but this could just provide further evidence that buying out/getting rid of Tucker (...and keeping Lappy would also be nice) could be the right thing to do for the Avs going forward, rather than him being an anchor for the team now...