The Milwaukee Bucks have been considered the biggest disappointment in the NBA so far, but recently they have made a nice little run. The Bucks have won four of their last five games to bring their record to 19-25, and they are creeping back into the playoff race as they are just four games out of the eighth spot. Because of the recent success, the trade rumors involving Milwaukee have quieted a little bit, but one name that keeps getting mentioned in relation to them is Ty Lawson, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
The trade deadline is just under a month away, so trade talks should start to pick up very soon, but it is very unclear whether the Houston Rockets want to move on from Lawson. There have been reports on both sides of the coin, but it does seem likely that if they received a solid offer for the point guard they wouldn't hesitate to trade him considering his role. Lawson just came back from his second DUI suspension, and his minutes have been sporadic since returning. Lawson played just six minutes against Cleveland on Friday but then played 31 minutes against the Lakers on Sunday.
Lawson's role with the Rockets this season has not been what they expected when they traded for him, as he has been coming off the bench. Lawson's fit in Houston hasn't been very good, but there is a thought that Lawson could use a change of scenery and a different situation will get him back to the near All-Star player he was in Denver.
Kyler's report states that when possible trades are being discussed in NBA circles, Lawson's name continues to get connected to the Bucks. Despite the continuous connection, though, a deal between Milwaukee and Houston for Lawson is unlikely at this point. There is still about a month until the trade deadline, so things can change, and acquiring Lawson makes some sense for the Bucks.
Michael Carter-Williams is currently the Bucks' starting point guard, and while he is having a nice season, he hasn't quite been as good as they had hoped. MCW's PER this season is 15.0, which is exactly the league average, and for a team with high hopes, Lawson is a guy that has more upside and might be worth the risk. The Bucks likely wouldn't have to give up much of anything to acquire Lawson, and if it doesn't work out they could just cut him after this year as his salary next year is not guaranteed.
As mentioned before, the trade is unlikely at this point, but there has been some chatter about it, and the deeper you look into it, the more sense it might make. The Bucks have dug themselves a hole this season, and taking a risk on a guy like Lawson may be what gets them over the hump if he can return to the form he had in Denver.
