Has Daryl Morey finally landed his third big fish?
After his well-chronicled search for the “third-best player on a championship team” led to narrow misses on the likes of Chris Bosh and LaMarcus Aldridge, the GM of the Houston Rockets finally made a big splash this summer with his trade for Ty Lawson, the talented-but-troubled point guard formerly of the Denver Nuggets.
But is Lawson a good fit next to James Harden, and can Houston’s contending culture help control him in ways that Denver could not? Mike Scotto, national writer at Sheridan Hoops, joins me to offer insight on how Lawson may mesh with his new team, including how the Rockets could divide minutes between Lawson and returning starter Pat Beverley.
We also examine why ex-Rocket forward Josh Smith chose to sign with the Clippers, including why Houston’s pursuit of Lawson may have had a direct impact on Smith’s choice.
Most importantly, where do the Rockets and Clippers stack up in the Western Conference after their latest moves? We wrap up the podcast by breaking down the West’s new landscape after a very active month of free agency. Tune in!
Ben DuBose is a veteran sports reporter who has followed the Houston Rockets and the NBA since Hakeem Olajuwon was Akeem Olajuwon. He writes for both SheridanHoops and ClutchFans, an independent Rockets blog. You can follow him on Twitter.