The NBA trade deadline isn’t until February of 2016, but there are a lot of big-time rumors flying around right now as the year comes to a close. The Houston Rockets are the subject of a lot of trade talk even though they’ve been on a hot streak in the last month. Still, there is a big three-team trade being tossed around that could involve the Rockets making a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets.
Yahoo Sports states that suspended guard Ty Lawson is on the trade block and it’s just a matter of time until he is dealt away. A number of different trade scenarios have started popping up as to how the Rockets can get rid of Lawson and get some value in return.
SB Nation is reporting that a possible three-team trade could get Lawson out of Houston, and have different players head in and out of New Orleans and Brooklyn. The trade is a bit complicated, but it works for all three teams both money and talent-wise.
In the proposed trade, Ryan Anderson would be heading out of New Orleans just as another big three-team rumored tradehas suggested. Anderson would be heading to the Rockets while Eric Gordon (and his huge contract) would go from the Pelicans to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Nets would also get Lawson from the Rockets.
Along with Anderson, the Rockets would also get guard Jarrett Jack from the Nets. Jack is another former Pelican/Hornet who could play well with James Harden and Patrick Beverley to make an impressive trio on the court.
New Orleans would end up landing forward Terrence Jones from the Rockets and forward Joe Johnson from the Nets. While neither would replace the shooting touch of Anderson, they both would provide a formidable strength under the basket with Anthony Davis.
This is a trade that would really work for all three teams, but mostly, the New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans head coach Alvin Gentry has dealt with a lot of injuries this season, his first year as leader of the Pelicans. This proposed trade arrangement could really do a lot for the team and alter a starting line-up that has been a mosh of differences all season long.
The trade would see Johnson start along with Davis, Omer Asik, Quincy Pondexter, and Jrue Holiday. Tyreke Evans would still be a great sixth man coming off of the bench and there would be other formidable back-up talent such as Norris Cole, Terrence Jones, Dante Cunningham, and Alonze Gee.
For the Rockets, unloading Lawson is an instant win as he has not brought much of anything in four years. Anderson and Jack would bring veteran leadership, knowledge and talent to a team that could really benefit from it as they’re hitting a hot streak.
The Nets would get Lawson who has a last season on his contract that isn’t guaranteed and they can release him without issue if need be. Eric Gordon would fit in nicely with the team and losing the expiring contract of Joe Johnson would also benefit them.
Gordon would bring about a decent long-range shooter to a team that hardly shoots any three-pointers at all. Actually, the Nets attempt the least number of three-point shots in the entire NBA.
This three-team trade is just speculation and full of rumors right now, but it’s a proposal that makes a lot of sense for the Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Brooklyn Nets. Before anyone realizes it, a lot of these players could be in different uniforms before too long.
[Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./Getty Images]