Ty Lawson (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The NBA trade deadline ended with the New York Knicks still empty-handed in their quest for a new point guard.
The Knicks were really handicapped by their lack of trade assets and draft picks and they may have to just wade out the rest of the season with Jose Calderon as their skipper.
However, there might still be another option as the Houston Rockets' Ty Lawson is reportedly seeking a buyout according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
"The Houston Rockets and guard Ty Lawson are exploring a contract buyout, league sources told The Vertical," Wojnarowski reported.
"After an initial unwillingness to part with Lawson post-NBA trade deadline, the Rockets could use the savings on a possible buyout to clear salary-cap space to acquire other players becoming available through buyouts, league sources said.
Houston discussed trade-deadline deals on Lawson, but was unable to find a suitable trade. Lawson is still owed $3.2 million on his 2015-16 contract, having already been paid $9.2 million."
Lawson has not been very productive with the Rockets, primarily because of James Harden's ball-heavy style of play where he would often take the role of the playmaker. Harden has not been the best teammate in general for the Rockets.
The Rockets gambled on Lawson because they wanted an elite point guard to match their Western Conference counterparts. Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul are all leading teams that the Rockets have to hurdle. But it seems very clear that Lawson does not belong in that circle.
The former Denver Nugget may have another chance along with a familiar face. The New York Knicks is a possible destination Ty Lawson as an addition if the buyout is executed according to The Daily Knicks.
"If Lawson and the Rockets are able to come to terms on a buyout agreement, it'd behoove the Knicks to take a short-term gamble on the mercurial 28-year-old point guard.," TDK stated.
Lawson does not have much to offer based on his performance this season, but it can be argued that he was not a good fit for the Rockets because of the aforementioned Harden.
If a change of scenery will bring back the All-Star level Ty Lawson, then the Knicks should gamble. At least they did not trade for him because that would mean surrendering assets.
