Recent trade rumors have emerged saying that the Houston Rockets' mercurial point guard Ty Lawson is set to be moved as soon as the NBA's trade restriction on recently signed free agents is lifted on Dec. 15.
There are a lot of projected trade scenarios involving Lawson that are currently circling around online, but Bleacher Report's Dan Favale suggested one that sends the 28-year-old former NCAA champion to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for shooting guard O.J. Mayo and point guard Greivis Vasquez.
Favale cited Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler in his article, who said that Houston had been "sniffing around the league for deals and there is a belief among other teams that Lawson could be had in trade, and had cheaply".
However, Kyler slightly backpedaled with his claim a few days later, tweeting that sources told him the "Rockets are not looking at deals" which include Lawson.
However, Lawson being traded before the February deadline is not really impossible and could be coming sooner than expected.
Lawson is not having his best season right now, averaging a measly 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in almost 27 minutes per game for Houston in 23 games so far. He had come from being a starter to a bench player when former Rockets head coach Kevin McHale was fired with 16-year veteran Jason Terry replacing him in Houston's first five.
Last season, Lawson averaged 15.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 9.6 assists for the Denver Nuggets as a starter and perhaps he is still capable of still producing such numbers, just not with the Rockets.
Favale noted that "If there is any should-be buyer willing to bet on Lawson's revival, it's the Bucks", who is currently in need of more offense and could use a scoring floor general to improve it.
NBA analyst Grant Hughes approved the trade, saying that "the Rockets need to cut bait on Lawson, who's been better lately but just doesn't make a lot of sense alongside their best player" James Harden.
Hughes also said that Mayo and Vasquez are "safer pieces who fit better" in Houston than Lawson.