When the NBA offseason first began, James Harden told Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey that he wanted to add another playmaker to the roster. The Rockets attempted to acquire players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love, but came up short and instead opted to re-sign most of their in-house talent. However, after trading for Ty Lawson over the weekend, the Rockets have some roster competition preparing to take place.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Rockets acquired Lawson from the Denver Nuggets who had been available since the NBA Draft. Lawson had fallen out of favor with Denver after the team drafted Emmanuel Mudiay and then brought on Jameer Nelson. It was clear there was no room for Lawson who now heads to Houston to battle with Patrick Beverley for the starting spot.
The question becomes which point guard is the better fit for Harden who is the face of the franchise. Lawson put up 15.2 points per game last season in Denver while shooting 43.6 percent overall with 4.6 assists per game. Beverley is coming off an injury, but signed a long-term deal that presumably cemented his spot as the starter for the next few years. However, Lawson has a skill set that makes him a better fit for Harden. He can stretch floor much better while being strong defensively and being the second playmaker the Rockets need. Lawson might have ranked seventh last season in touches, but he led the Nuggets in offensive win shares. The Rockets simply need to decide if he is better suited as a starter or a leader off the bench.
The Rockets roster appears set for 2015. According to the Houston Chronicle, the team re-signed KJ McDaniel after missing out on retaining Josh Smith. Trevor Ariza and Terrence Jones will no longer be traded this season while Dwight Howard returns healthy at the center spot. The Rockets are hoping this is the roster that keeps them competitive in the Western Conference. While they may have missed out on getting either Love or Aldridge, Lawson is not a bad addition for scoring abilities. The point guard will battle for the starting spot alongside Beverley which should make for an interest training camp.
