The Nuggets are supporting Ty Lawson’s rehabilitation.
Now, they can do it their preferred way – from afar.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Denver has agreed to a deal to send guard Ty Lawson to Houston, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2015
Sources: As part of deal for Ty Lawson, Houston will send Kostas, Pablo Prigioni, Joey Dorsey, Nick Johnson and a protected first to Denver.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2015
From Houston to Denver, that includes forward Kostas Papanikolaou.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2015
Along with Ty Lawson, Denver will send a future second-round pick to Houston, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2015
Houston will send a 2016 protected first-round pick to Denver, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2015
Denver will send a 2017 second-round pick to Houston, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 20, 2015
A mentally engaged Lawson offers a dimension the Rockets need.
He’ll handle playmaking duties, easing the burden on James Harden. When Houston needs defense, Patrick Beverley can play point guard. It’s an excellent 1-2 punch.
The Rockets pay a pretty low price to pay, especially depending on the protections of that first-round pick. But Houston doesn’t project to have a high draft pick any time soon, anyway.
Denver gets to move on – and not much else. A couple OK players and what’s likely a low first-rounder don’t really move the needle. But the Nuggets so badly wanted to move Lawson, that probably matters most to them. They could waive Papanikolaou and his fully unguaranteed $4,797,664 salary by Oct. 4, too.
The key is Lawson clearing up his issues with alcohol and getting his life in order. If he can, this is a huge win for the Rockets, and I think it’s a risk worth taking.
A chance to play for a better team might motivate Lawson to turn his attention to the court.
