The Houston Rockets have made a trade for Ty Lawson with the Denver Nuggets and this comes after the team signed KJ McDaniels to a free agent contract and the tea also bring back Jason Terry or Chuck Hayes in free agency this summer.
The Rockets likely will go the route of bringing back Terry, but a Ty Lawson trade is another potential option and it looks like it's happening. According to Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo Sports, the Nuggets have "agreed to a deal to send" Lawson to the Houston Rockets. League sources gave Wojnarowski the tip and it came after previous reports about Lawson's trade interest from multiple teams. Check here for the report on Lawson getting traded and for details on what is being sent to Denver, including a draft pick.
UPDATE: Marc Stein, ESPN: "Fact that Houston had to surrender two guards in Lawson trade, I'm told, enhances chances of Jason Terry returning to Rockets in free agency."Pablo Prigioni was moved in the deal and Yahoo reports the Nuggets will "trade or waive him" before his contract becomes fully guaranteed.
According to Chris Mannix at Sports Illustrated, the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons had interest in a trade for Lawson. Lawson is dealing with off the court issues and has to go into a program after a second DUI, but the Nuggets have reportedly been looking to trade the point guard. The team signed Jameer Nelson and drafted Emmanuel Mudiay this offseason and now they could move on from Lawson.
The Rockets signed back Patrick Beverley and Corey Brewer this offseason and now they have brought back another key free agent. According to Pro Basketball Talk, McDaniels has signed a three year, $10 million deal with Houston and he announced on Twitter that he was "thankful" to be back with the team. There were reports last week from the Houston Chronicle that the Rockets were close to bringing back McDaniels and now the deal is official.
Jake Pavorsky of Liberty Ballers reported that the deal has a player option in the third season for McDaniels and that news was later confirmed by his agent. Bobby Marks reports that the Rockets used part of their mid-level exception on McDaniels and now the team has "14 guaranteed contracts" on the roster. The team also has the contract of Pablo Prigioni becoming guaranteed this week and they are currently $3 million under the tax.
The Rockets did not make any major splashes in free agency, but the team re-signed Beverley and Brewer and also added Marcus Thornton. The team reportedly is interested in bringing back Jason Terry as a backup point guard and the Houston Chronicle reports that Chuck Hayes is another potential target for the team. McDaniels averaged 7.9 points and three rebounds last season and he played in 62 games for the Sixers and the Rockets.
According to RealGM, the Rockets and Terry are "close" to a deal for the point guard to return and it comes after Terry said Houston was the "best fit" for him for next season. Terry could be coming into the final year of his career and he was solid in a reserve role last season, averaging 7.0 points and 1.6 assists in 77 games. Marc Spears at Yahoo Sports reports that the Rockets and Hayes have "mutual interest" and it comes after Hayes played the first part of his career in Houston.
Check here for more on the Houston Rockets offseason moves, the new deal with KJ McDaniels and more on the trade with Ty Lawson.