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NBA: 5 Best Fits If Houston Rockets Buy Out Ty Lawson

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard Ty Lawson (3) dribbles the ball up the court against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rockets won 111 - 105. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard Ty Lawson (3) dribbles the ball up the court against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rockets won 111 - 105. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Houston Rockets buy out Ty Lawson, here are five NBA teams that should look into acquiring his services.

NBA
Feb 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard Ty Lawson (3) dribbles the ball up the court against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rockets won 111 – 105. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

When general manager Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets made a power move to trade for Ty Lawson last summer, it was a swing-for-the-fences gamble that came with a few red flags, not the least of which were Lawson’s two DUI arrests and his need for rehab to address his drinking problem.

Those concerns didn’t derail what was supposed to be a fresh start in Clutch City this season, but the major on-court obstacle that some worried about — Lawson and James Harden being ball-dominant guards and sharing the same backcourt — did.

In a season filled with various disappointments that have piled up to Houston’s lackluster 29-29 record, the failed Ty Lawson experiment ranks near the top of the list. With the former Denver Nuggets facilitator averaging 6.0 points and 3.5 assists in 22.8 minutes per game — his worst numbers since his rookie season — it’s no surprise to see The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski report that the Rockets are exploring a buyout with Lawson.

According to Woj, Houston shopped the 28-year-old guard at the trade deadline but were unable to find a suitable deal. His playing time has dropped to 15.9 minutes per game in February, he’s reached double digits in the scoring column once in his last 12 games, and he’s had double-digit assists in only one game this season.

The question is, which teams should be interested in damaged goods like Lawson if he is bought out?

Teams looking to bolster their guard depth with a little experience for a postseason run might consider signing Lawson to a minimum deal. After all, Lawson has carried himself well this season despite his clear on-court struggles, and it was only a year ago that he averaged 15.2 points and a career best 9.6 assists per game.

For a playoff team to be able to sign Lawson for the remainder of the season, he’d have to agree to a buyout and be waived by Tuesday. Here’s a look at the five best fits if that happens.

Next: No. 5