Draft Prospect: Ty Lawson

[Marcus Bryant]

http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ty_lawson.jpg

Full Name: Tywon Ronnell Lawson
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 5-11 / 195
Birthdate: November 3, 1987
High School: Oak Hill Academy
College: North Carolina

NBA (http://www.nba.com/draft2008/profiles/TyLawson.html)
NBADraft.net (http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/tylawson.html)
DraftExpress (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Ty-Lawson-485/)

[Spur-Addict]

Not a main priority. I'd prefer a bigger guard at back up point personally.

[hsxvvd]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52868/20080606/ty_lawson_charged_with_driving_after_drinking/

He was charged with Driving after drinking, he'll slip and probably go back to college.

[AFBlue]

Word is that he got a promise from Denver at #20 and that's why he only went one day at the pre-draft camp.

I think it would take a little more than this incident to change their mind if they did indeed promise him. But, if he pulls out it's a good bet that's exactly what happened.

[picnroll]

As far as Denver is concerned a DWI pretty much clinches it as Ty being their man.

[Mr. Body]

Tiny little drinker.

[SPURSGOAT]

As far as Denver is concerned a DWI pretty much clinches it as Ty being their man.

:lol:toast

[Marcus Bryant]

Ty Lawson, 5-11 ½, Junior, Sophomore, Point Guard, North Carolina
10 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 steals, 40% FG, 0-1 3P, 19 minutes

Rodger Bohn

In the lone game he participated in at the NBA pre-draft camp, Lawson was the top performer the camp had to offer before pulling out with a supposed hip pointer. He likely felt comfortable enough with his performance in camp to withdraw from the last three days of competition, probably at advice of whoever is assisting him as he navigates his way through the draft process.

Not usually a strong finisher at the basket, Lawson did an outstanding job of using his body when in the lane to finish. He controlled the tempo of the game to a tee, able to push the ball down the floor as fast as anyone in this camp, and also displaying the maturity to slow things down in a half court setting.

Even though he did not post big assist numbers for the camp, the sophomore did an excellent job of tallying "hockey assists", dishing the ball off to an open man who had an assist opportunity on the next pass. His pure playmaking skills were on center stage all camp long, where he was hands down the top point guard the camp had to offer. It only took a moment of watching him on the court to see just how much better he is than any other point guard in attendance, and the complexion of the entire game changed as soon as he entered the court.

While blessed with great strength and quickness, Lawson is not a very good defender due to his tendency to gamble excessively on the defensive end. His lack of size and length hurts him on this end especially, where he desperately struggles to contest bigger guards' shots.

Outside shooting is another part of Lawson's game that has been a concern over the years and didn't appear to improve much in the drills and games in Orlando. Still shooting more of a set shot, he struggles mightily when shooting the three from NBA three point range, and could still use a lot of improvement from mid-range if he hopes to keep defenders honest at the next level.

Given this draft's lack of depth at the point guard position, Lawson has done everything in his ability to solidify his standing as the third pure point guard selected in this year's draft. Private workouts will be crucial in whether or not he lands in the first round, although there is some talk that a guarantee from Denver may have been what convinced him to withdraw from the draft. Not having officially signed with an agent so far, the option remains open for a return to Chapel Hill for his junior season.

link (http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Orlando-Recap-Second-Team-All-NBA-Pre-Draft--2916/)

[urunobili]

Chad Ford mock draft 4.0 has us selecting this guy...

[tav1]

I hope not. We have more pressing needs. Ford doesn't really have a pulse for the Spurs, I don't think. Maybe it's because Buford won't do his podcast.

[coachmac87]

in the chad ford 4.0 mock draft...

batum goes 25 to rockets..wow if that really happens im gonna be sick.

wouldnt mind having lawson as a backup to tony tho

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-080609

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Spurs draft Ty LawsonDude, don't fuckin scare us like that. :lol
And I don't really want Lawson. Backup PG isn't something to address in the first round.
Besides, word is that he has a promise from Denver.

[timvp]

I read somewhere that Lawson doesn't want to be drafted by a team that has a star point guard ... and he specifically named Tony Parker as an example. Add in his recent DUI and I'm pretty confident this is not the guy.

Actually, I'd be pissed if the Spurs drafted him with CDR, Walker and Lee on the board. This is a perfect chance to get a young swingman since there are about six that should be drafted in the second half of the first round. I really don't care which of CDR, Walker, Lee, Rush, Batum or Budinger the Spurs draft ... as long as they draft one of those six.

[SenorSpur]

pass

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Lawson Skips Workout With Nuggets
Jun 09, 2008 10:55 AM EST

North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson skipped a workout with the Nuggets on Sunday two days after he was arrested, according to The Denver Post.

According to Nuggets' Coach George Karl, Lawson was also dealing with nagging injuries, but the team still expected to see him at the workout.

"When I was coming this morning, I thought he was going to be here," the coach said.

"I definitely think he's going to be an NBA player," Karl added. "I'm sure he's going to make an NBA team someday. His decision is, will he do it this year or next year?"

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52906/20080609/ty_lawson_skips_workout_with_nuggets/

[SPURSGOAT]

Wait for the second round for a backup PG... hopefully Nicolas Batum drops to us.. in the chad ford 4.0 mock shows rockets grabbing Batum one pick before us... would suck if it happened like that...

[angelbelow]

i would rather want a big combo guard as our back up. someone who can handle and score.

[SPURSGOAT]

looking again at the latest chad ford mock... actually has us passing on CDR for a backup PG!? Better not happen like that... would be pissed!!! :ihit :pctoss

[silk]

Excuse me but who is CDR ?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Chris Douglas-Roberts

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52928/20080610/ty_lawson_twists_ankle/

Ty Lawson Twists Ankle
Jun 10, 2008 5:51 PM EST

Draft prospect Ty Lawson twisted his ankle near the end of his workout with the Wizards on Monday, according to The News-Observer.

"I think I did well today," he said of his workout on Monday. "I rolled my ankle near the end. I stopped to get the ball and I slipped, but it is not that bad. It will be fine in a couple of days."

The Nuggets revealed that Lawson did inform them that the point guard would not be working out with them over the weekend, but the Tar Heel was expected to visit Denver on Tuesday.

He has until Monday to withdraw from the draft and maintain his eligibility at North Carolina.

[yavozerb]

The guy is going to withdraw in a couple of days. Probably a lottery pick next year if he goes back to NC this year.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Lawson likes his chances in NBA draft
By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

If Ty Lawson is concerned his recent arrest will diminish his value in the upcoming NBA draft, he certainly didn't show it Tuesday at the Pepsi Center.

Lawson, cited in Chapel Hill, N.C., last week for underage drinking and driving, looked relaxed and spoke with confidence after his workout with the Nuggets.

"I'm not like a troublemaker who gets into trouble all the time," he said. "It's not like I was driving around just hammered, drunk. I was below the legal limit (for DUI), so I don't think it should have any effect."

Lawson, 20, averaged 12.7 points and 5.2 assists as a sophomore for North Carolina last season. He has not hired an agent and plans to return to school if he does not think he will be among the top 20 selections at the June 26 draft.

Lawson seemed to be a lock for the top 20 after a strong showing at the pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., but his arrest Friday raised some questions about his judgment and character.

"I should have been a little more responsible," he said. "I shouldn't have even been out. It's part of growing up. You live and you learn."

Lawson said he thought it was going to be a "routine stop" when he was pulled over near his house in Chapel Hill. He said the officer told him he had been playing his music too loud on a street two or three miles away from where he was stopped.

"I made a mistake, but I also think that it's unjustified," he said.

After passing roadside-sobriety tests, Lawson said he agreed to a Breathalyzer test, which registered .03. Under North Carolina law, a person is considered intoxicated if they have a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher. Lawson was cited for driving by a person younger than 21 years old after consuming alcohol.

"If I was 21, I'd have been good," he said.

Lawson, a 5-foot-11 point guard whose quickness and passing ability would suit the Nuggets' uptempo style, originally was scheduled to work out for the Nuggets on Sunday but said there was a miscommunication that pushed back his appearance.

There had been speculation the Nuggets promised Lawson they would draft him with the 20th pick, but Lawson said there has been no such commitment.

"I've heard there's an interest in me (from the Nuggets), but there was no promise," he said.

Even if there was an under-the-table agreement, it might not matter on draft night.

Lawson has worked out for the Indiana Pacers, who will select 11th on draft night, and the Washington Wizards (18). He also is considering workouts with the Sacramento Kings (12) and Portland Trail Blazers (13).

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/10/lawson-likes-his-chances-in-nba-draft/

[Spurs Brazil]

The Not List




LawsonTy Lawson, PG, North Carolina
Lawson had a couple of very good workouts in Cleveland and Indiana. And he had an impressive Orlando predraft camp. But then he got busted for driving after consuming alcohol (he's underage). At a time of year when teams are super sensitive to character issues, this won't help his cause.

How can a team like the Pacers (who had him in to workout against D.J. Augustin) take him now after all of the legal nightmares the team has endured recently with its players?

On top of that, Lawson twisted an ankle in a workout with the Wizards on Monday.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftNotes-080610&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2fdraft2008%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumni st%3dford_chad%26page%3dDraftNotes-080610

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

-Ty Lawson will be returning to North Carolina, according to a source close to the situation.

http://www.draftexpress.com/article/Early-Entry-Withdrawal-Deadline-Gallinari-Stays-in-the-Draft--128ET--2929/