The Houston Rockets are interested in bringing back free agent KJ McDaniels and the team may also look at a trade for Ty Lawson with the Denver Nuggets, while players like Jason Terry and Chuck Hayes remain in the mix to fill out the roster for Houston with Dwight Howard and James Harden leading the way.
The Rockets made a deep playoff run last season and now they are looking to keep the roster intact heading into next year. The team did not make any major moves in free agency, but they did keep Patrick Beverley and Corey Brewer and both of those moves should help keep the Rockets strong in the west. According to Calvin Watkins at ESPN, the Rockets are looking to bring back McDaniels on the mid-level exception this year and they are "in talks" about a return.
UPDATE: According to Adrian Wojnarowski: "Denver hasDenver has agreed to a deal to send guard Ty Lawson to Houston, league sources tell Yahoo Sports."
The Rockets have Beverley as the starting point guard after re-signing him to a four year deal and the team reportedly is interested in bringing back Jason Terry. The team also could be interested in a trade, as Chris Mannix at Sports Illustrated reports that Ty Lawson could be in the mix for the Rockets with the Denver Nuggets. Lawson is being shopped by the Nuggets and Mannix writes that the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons have interest.
Check here for more on the interest in Ty Lawson and for more on the rockets free agent possibilities with KJ McDaniels and Jason Terry.
The Kings also could be in the mix for Lawson, as he previously played for George Karl, but a deal is unlikely with Rajon Rondo already in Sacramento. Lawson was arrested for his second DUI and he has been on the outs with Nuggets management and now could be traded or waived this summer. Lawson is generating some interest and the Nuggets likely will make a move, as they drafted Emmanuel Mudiay and signed back Jameer Nelson this offseason. Lawson has been productive in Denver, but the situation just hasn't been working out overall and he could be a strong option for teams after averaging 15 points and nearly 10 assists per game.
The Rockets are reportedly interested in bringing back Terry and if they do not go through with a Lawson deal, he could return as the main backup for Beverley. Yahoo Sports reports that the Rockets are also looking into signing free agent Chuck Hayes, who was previously with the Rockets. Hayes played in 29 games last season and averaged 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Hayes would be in a reserve role for Houston.
Watkins reports that McDaniels has "a strong offer" from another team, but there has not been an offer sheet given to McDaniels yet. The mid-level would be over $5 million and Pro Basketball Talk reports that the move would add some traffic with Trevor Ariza, Corey Brewer and Sam Dekker on the roster. McDaniels was traded to the Rockets last season and they have a major decision to make on whether to keep him or not, as the team gave up, Isaiah Canaan and a second-round pick in that deal and losing him would make it a bit of a wasted trade.