Ty Lawson happy with the trade to Rockets

Newly acquired starting point guard Ty Lawson said the trade from the Denver Nuggets to the Houston Rockets will be a fresh start and that he's the missing piece the team needs in its quest to reach the NBA Finals.

The Rockets dealt four backup players to the Nuggets in the July deal. As part of the trade, Lawson agreed to make the final year of his contract in the 2016-17 season worth $13.2 million, non-guaranteed.

Lawson said he had dinner with Rockets coach Kevin McHale last week in Houston and that he's spoken with Harden about joining the team.

"Oh yeah, for sure," Lawson told Fox 26 Houston. "I was like, before I even came to the team, I was talking to James Harden. I was like, 'Man get me over there.' I'll be that piece to get over the hump. It's definitely a breath of fresh air."

"It means a lot, they believe that much in my game," said Lawson, who added he's excited to play for McHale. "It means a lot that he feels that way about me."

Lawson completed a 30-day stay in an alcohol rehabilitation facility last month after two arrests on suspicion of drunken driving in Denver and Los Angeles. The arrests have made Lawson a subject of possible discipline from the NBA, which could suspend or fine him. A final decision won't be rendered until the court cases are resolved.