NBA Trade Rumors: Five potential destinations for Ty Lawson
Did someone say take on a bad contract and collect an asset in return? Well that has 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie written all over it. Hinkie loves to acquire future assets, and having worked under Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, the two would obviously look to work to see if a deal could be had, just like they have done on trades in the past.
A deal between these two teams might be a little tricky in terms of player contracts and the fact the Rockets might have to take a little salary on of their own, but they both have certain assets that could appease the other in a deal like this.
With Lawson’s contract not guaranteed next season, his deal would technically be an expiring contract this season. Cap space isn’t really of a concern to the 76ers, but assets are. If they could line up a deal with the Rockets to take on Lawson, and say an asset, then something could work out.
With Lawson making $12.4 million this year, the 76ers would have to make that work cap wise with contracts going back to Houston and roster sizes. The Rockets currently have 14 players on the roster, so it would have to be a multi-player trade going both sides, or the Rockets would simply have to waive one of the low incoming salaries.
The biggest contract that the 76ers have is that of former Rockets forward Carl Landry, who is due to make $6.5 million the next two seasons. While Houston could be reluctant to take on money for next season, Landry’s deal would be an expiring next year and they could move him in a deal for salary purposes. The rest of the money would be easy to make up for the 76ers. Tony Wroten’s $2.179 million deal ends after this season and the very low salaries of other players on the team, such as an Isaiah Canaan to make the numbers work out.
Where Philadelphia and Houston do the deal is in an asset swap. The Rockets pick, should they make the playoffs, would go to Denver as part of the Lawson trade, and if they miss the playoffs, they would be reluctant to trade a lottery pick.
So why not send the Rockets 2017 pick to the 76ers in a swap for the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s pick this year, which Philadelphia owns? This way Houston gets a pick back in return and Philadelphia gets one of their own.
Essentially, the deal would look like Landry/Wroten/Canaan and Oklahoma City’s 2016 first-round pick for Lawson and Houston’s 2017 first-round pick. It’s tricky, but the two former colleagues could certainly make something work out.
Next: Boston Celtics