Ty Lawson has not worked out for the Rockets like Houston had hoped for. The Rockets had traded for Lawson from Denver hoping to get a quality starting point guard and creator next to James Harden for cheap, after Lawson was caught for his third DUI in under two years. Instead, Lawson has nearly fallen out of the rotation in Houston, which is doubly stunning considering how bad Houston has been.
Now the Rockets are trying to find a way out of their mistake, and are looking to the Utah Jazz as a potential trade partner to take Lawson. From the Salt Lake Tribune and ESPN:
The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are discussing a deal that would send Trey Burke out for Ty Lawson, league sources tell The Tribune
— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) February 17, 2016
Houston remains ultra-aggressive trying to find a new home for Dwight Howard and, ESPN sources say, hasn't stopped trying to move Ty Lawson
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 17, 2016
Sources say Houston, well aware Utah has been on the hunt for a veteran point guard for the stretch run, is pitching Ty Lawson to the Jazz
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 17, 2016
The elephant in the room here is a Utah culture that values high character, and Lawson, who not only has the frequent arrests for DUI, but told Yahoo Sports last summer that he didn't really have an alcohol problem.
If Lawson can get comfortable with the Jazz and play like he did in Denver, he gives them someone who can lob to Rudy Gobert, shoot from the outside, and run the offense, something the Jazz badly need that could help secure them a playoff spot. If not, Lawson's deal is non-guaranteed for next season and the Jazz can cut bait. The question is whether taking a flyer on Lawson is worth Burke and whatever other asset they would need to trade in order to make salaries work.
It also shows how urgently the Rockets are pursuing ways to reshape their roster. They're not looking for tweaks. They want major overhauls and ditching Lawson is a sign of just how close he may be to being out of the league entirely.
