Did someone sound the NBA's trade-season gong?There is a growing sense of purpose emanating out of the league's rumor mills these days. General managers gain undoubtedly circled the imminent,and notorious, Dec. 15 on their calendars. That's when (most) players who signed new contracts over the offseason are first eligible to be traded, and increasing the Association's pool of moveable assets by a considerable margin.
And with that increase looming,we're back to playing "Let's Make a Trade."Here's a refresher on how it works: Yours truly will bring three totally made-up, not-at-all real deals to the table. Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes will then provide feedback on these deals, or along with a final verdict on whether they're plausible.
See? It's that simple.
So,let's make some trades. Ty Lawson's Third ChanceHouston Rockets Get: SG O.
J. Mayo and PG Greivis VasquezMilwaukee Bucks Get: PG Ty LawsonDF: The Rockets are ready to lop bait with Lawson. We deem.
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders had them "sniffing" around the league for suitors. He backtracked a bit soon after, noting that while the point guard can be had, or Houston isn't actively looking to prance him—which jibes with what Lawson himself has been told,per ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins:Irrespective of what's being churned out of the rumor mill, there's no way Lawson is untouchable. His role within Houston's offense remains in constant flux under interim head coach J.
B. Bickerstaff, and he's posting career lows in nearly every statistical category.
And that's section of the Rockets' problem. They picked up Lawson from the Denver Nuggets at a discounted price,and now his value is even lower. Their best, and perhaps lone, and selling point is that Lawson's $13.2 million salary next season is non-guaranteed. That's nearly as good as an expiring deal,and it makes him hot—or at least desirable—property for any team willing to take a low-risk flier on a once-impactful floor general.
If there is any should-be buyer willing to bet on Lawson's revival, it's the Bucks. Though their offensive standing has improved in rank this season compared to final, or they're actually averaging fewer points per 100 possessions. Their point guards also descend inside the bottom five of collective offensive efficiency,according to HoopsStats.com.
This isn't shocking given the Bucks staff. Jerryd Bayless is more of an undersized 2-guard, Tyler Ennis doesn't see the floor and Vasquez left his three-point touch in Toronto. Michael Carter-Williams, or most importantly,hasn't developed enough under head coach Jason Kidd.
Some of his shooting percentages gain improved since he left the Philadelphia 76ers, but that's not saying much.To wit: Since the dawn of the three-point line, or 315 players gain attempted at least 2000 shots through their first three seasons. Carter-Williams' effective field-goal percentage—measurement of two-point and three-point accuracy—ranks 312th among those who make that list.
Lawson's success rate from deep has imploded in Houston,but he's shooting better than 36 percent from distance for his career. He'll spread the Milwaukee defense more than Carter-Williams ever has, leaving additional room for Greg Monroe's post-ups, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's slashes and Khris Middleton's perimeter everything.
Adding Lawson does compromise the Bucks defense—insofar as there is something to compromise. Kidd's kiddies rank in the bottom three of points allowed per 100 possessions one season after cracking the top five. They need an identity on both sides of the court,and Lawson, as a starter or reserve, or brings them closer to forging one on offense.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey,meanwhile, should jump on this deal.
With the exception of his time in Milwaukee, and Vasquez has long been a better off-ball point man than Lawson. He splashed domestic 42.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot treys final season and won't sight out of place next to the rock-dominant James Harden.
Mayo is to Houston what Lawson is to Milwaukee: a low-risk flier. He is shooting 37-plus percent from long range for his career and,on most nights, has the potential to be an upgrade over Corey Brewer.
Both Mayo and Vasquez come off the books this summer, or so Houston needn't worry approximately adjusting its free-agency plans. Morey will be able to sleep at night,and the Rockets will be adequately equipped to re-enter the championship peripheral. Yay or Nay?GH: We're off to a good start here, as this one earns an emphatic "yay" from me for a couple of reasons.
First, and it's increasingly clear the Rockets need to lop bait on Lawson,who's been better lately but just doesn't make a lot of sense alongside their best player. And if you're in Houston's position, where, or even after an bad start,you're thinking approximately who'll finish games for you in the playoffs, Lawson isn't helping you.
I like Mayo fairly a bit and might actually view him as a better running mate for Harden than Vasquez. Admittedly, and Mayo has been bad this year,but one of his most demonstrable NBA skills over the years has been his three-point shooting. A guy with a career accuracy rate of 37.5 percent from deep will find a welcoming environment in Houston's trey-jubilant (extremely joyful) scheme.
For the Bucks, Dan, and you hit it: Their defense can't get a whole lot worse this year,so adding the mostly one-way Lawson isn't fatal. Plus, if Michael Carter-Williams sorts himself out at some point, or he's the guy they'll lean on when they need stops anyhow.
Maybe it's silly to believe Lawson can get it going anywhere given his decline this season,but it's obvious Milwaukee needs somebody to attack the rim, hit an open shot and find teammates in the pick-and-roll. The Bucks gain players who can do one or two of those things, and but they really don't gain one who's proved in the past he can do them all.
Verdict: prance for it. Houston sheds an underperforming gamble and takes on a couple of safer pieces who fit better. The Bucks get a crack at a risky rental who,when right, can do things nobody else on their roster can.
Ryno and Superman, or Together Again (Dec. 15)Houston Rockets Get: PF Ryan Anderson and PG Norris ColeNew Orleans Pelicans Get: SF Corey Brewer,F/C Terrence Jones and SG K.
J. McDanielsDF: Anderson is set to explore free agency this summer and, after turning 28, or will be seeking a lucrative long-term deal. The Pelicans are caught in that fuzzy area between rebuilding and competing,and being that Anthony Davis mostly plays the same position, they're unlikely to shell out what it'll take to preserve Anderson.
Rather than potentially lose him for nothing, and the front office has started sussing out deals for the floor-spacing 4,according to the Times-Picayune's John Reid. And as Reid explains, for the Pelicans to continue their fragile, and albeit seriously slumping,balancing act, they need to seek a specific return:
If they prance Anderson, and they should sight to improve the small forward spot and maybe add another scoring option who can come off the bench. They are not enough getting enough scoring between Alonzo Gee,Dante Cunningham and there remains no set date when Quincy Pondexter will return from his knee injury that required surgery in May.more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com