The Houston Rockets' top trade target this season appears to be Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic, but if they fail to land him, their backup plan could be trading for Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson. Grantland's Zach Lowe reported Denver would be willing to hear offers for Lawson and named Houston as a potential suitor for him.
With the Feb. 19 trade deadline days away, Houston appears to be actively looking for a trade to upgrade their point guard position. They've been linked to Dragic, whom Phoenix is now reportedly willing to move, and are expected to pursue a trade for him before the deadline. If the Rockets are unable to acquire Dragic, a trade for Lawson might be their backup plan.
"The Rockets are the contender with the most bullets left in the chamber. They're sitting on a potential lottery pick from the Pelicans, and Smith's improved play of late makes it a bit more palatable to put Terrence Jones in a trade," Lowe wrote Monday of Houston making a big offer for Lawson. "They also have convenient salary-matching pieces in Jason Terry and Kostas Papanikolaou, plus their own future first-round picks. ... Houston will have a hard time creating max-level cap space this summer, so landing a big fish now is enticing."
Lawson, who's averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 assists, is one of the fastest players on the court and would be an instant upgrade over Patrick Beverley at the 1-spot. He's only 27 years old and is under contract through 2016, earning $12.4 million next season and $13.2 million the season after.
Their top target, though, still appears to be Dragic. Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times reported last week Phoenix would be willing to part with Dragic for a first-round pick, and ESPN's Marc Stein reported Friday the Rockets were expected to pursue him before the deadline on Thursday.
Houston's only first-round draft pick in 2015 is from the New Orleans Pelicans. Although Houston has assets, namely the first-round pick and Jones, involving a third team in any deal would make things easier for them.
