NBA Trade News: Jazz swap Trey Burke for Rockets' Ty Lawson in potential deal before deadline
The Utah Jazz could join the trading frenzy on the Feb. 18 deadline, with the team rumored to be interested in acquiring Houston Rockets point guard Ty Lawson.
The Rockets brought Lawson in the offseason with hopes of boosting their point guard spot with the player’s athleticism and prolific scoring. But Lawson has been a shell of himself in Houston and is a failed experiment that did not click with the team’s other talented players.
A change of scenery might be good for Lawson to bring back his old lethal form, and one of the teams interested in gambling for the disgruntled point guard is the Jazz.
Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune tweeted that the Rockets and Jazz were discussing a deal that would send Lawson to Utah and Trey Burke to Houston.
The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are discussing a deal that would send Trey Burke out for Ty Lawson, league sources tell The Tribune
— Tony Jones (@Tjonessltrib) February 17, 2016
According to Andy Larsen of Salt City Hoops, the Jazz are convinced Lawson’s downside this season has nothing to do with his physical conditioning, but rather on the Rocket’s team and chemistry.
Jazz feel Lawson's issues in Houston are about that team's system and chemistry, but see no physical slipping in Lawson's play on court.
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) February 18, 2016
It would be interesting to see Lawson play in Utah as many believe the 28-year-old could once again play well being surrounded by players who share the ball. However, a straight up swap of Burke for Lawson will not work because of both the mismatch in both players’ salaries.
Lawson’s salary this season is a cool $12.4 million, while Burke is paid only $2.6 million. With the Jazz's $7.6 million under the salary cap, acquiring Lawson via trade would require Utah to include another player in a potential deal. According to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times, the Jazz could either include Joe Ingles or Tibor Pleiss to compensate for the $2.1 million.
Not a rumor but something like Burke/Ingles for Lawson would work, or Burke/Pleiss - just talking math
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) February 17, 2016
Burke gives the Rockets a decent point guard who complements well with the team’s James Harden-centred offense. Burke is averaging 11.8 points per game, which is significantly higher than Lawson’s 6.3 points. His offense could instantly boost the production in Houston’s point guard position, with Patrick Beverley filling his duties as a defensive backup PG.
The Rockets would be the clear winner of this trade if such a deal materialises. But Lawson could also be a game-changer for the Jazz, who are holding on for an eighth place finish in the Western Conference.
