Houston Rockets: With Ty Lawson, The Rockets Snag A Seat Amongst The West Elites

The Houston Rockets, with the addition of Ty Lawson, have worked their way into the same room as fellow Western Conference elite teams

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For a moment this summer, something close to a few weeks, it almost felt as if all the building the Houston Rockets had done during the last two years was for not. That’s because the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers greatly improved their rosters this offseason — added to the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and (now) healthy Oklahoma City Thunder, and you can see why there was reason for concern when it came to the Rockets roster.

Now, however, after swinging a trade late Sunday night, it appears that Daryl Morey has once again swung his magical wand in a way that now sees his Houston Rockets right back in the thick of the race to win next year’s Western Conference title.

Ty Lawson is on his way to Houston after the Rockets and Nuggets agreed to a trade that essentially consisted of the former giving up all their bad players in exchange for (arguably) the latter’s best. Funny how that works.

"[via Yahoo]Houston will send Kostas Papanikolaou, Pablo Prigioni, Joey Dorsey, Nick Johnson and a lottery-protected 2016 first-round draft pick to Denver, sources said. Along with Lawson, the Nuggets will send a 2017 second-round pick to Houston.After Lawson’s second DUI arrest in six months, market interest for him had been severely curbed, league sources said. Nevertheless, the Rockets have had a strong interest with him and were willing to take the risk of working to get Lawson the assistance he needs to become a top-level NBA point guard again. For the Nuggets, the 2016 first-round pick, Papanikolaou and Johnson deliver them back legitimate value on a deal for a player in a rehabilitation facility.Lawson, 27, entered treatment for alcohol abuse last week after he was arrested on DUI charges in Los Angeles."

Considering all that Lawson comes with, IF he can right himself off the basketball court, he will be a great help to the Houston Rockets team. Lawson and Patrick Beverley, who was re-signed this summer to a four-year, $25 million deal, would create one of the best point guard combos in the NBA.

The Rockets would have the option to bring Lawson off the bench, similar to a Monta Ellis sixth man type of role, while also having the ability to close games with the lineup of Beverley-Lawson-James Harden–Trevor Ariza–Dwight Howard.

Even without Lawson, Houston’s depth was insane. The Rockets might’ve not gotten significantly better, despite Lawson’s huge potential, but even on depth alone, this move will do wonders for the Rockets next season.

Houston, depth-wise, is now on the same level of almost any other team in the NBA, including the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. The Rockets problem last season had nothing to do with defense. For the most part, it had more to do with not having an offensive option beyond Harden.

Adding a player like Lawson essentially eliminates that problem.

The Rockets won’t be the Western Conference favorites heading into next season, but they’re certainly going to be in the same room with the Spurs, Warriors, Thunder and Clippers heading into next season. And considering all that has transpired this summer thus far, that’s all any team in the West could ask for.

James Harden asked for an additional playmaker after the season ended — he now has one.

Next: NBA Player Rankings: The Top-10 Point Guards

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