According to ESPN Draft Insider Chad Ford, the Denver Nuggets are looking for another big man to fill out their rotation, and would like to accomplish that goal by trading into the top 10 of the draft. If they do manage to get their hands on a top-10 pick, they would have their pick of big men prospects such as Cole Aldrich, Ed Davis, and Ekpe Udoh. According to Ford’s sources, Denver is offering point guard Ty Lawson for the pick.
When looking at all the teams with a top-10 pick in this year’s draft, a couple of obvious trade partners emerge. The Wizards and 76ers obviously aren’t looking to trade their picks for Lawson. Lawson probably isn’t worth a top-10 pick, and the Timberwolves, Kings, and Warriors drafted a combined four point guards in the first seven picks of last year’s draft anyways. Lawson would make some sense in Detroit, as Rodney Stuckey is more of a combo guard than a true point. However, Detroit may have made their bed with Stuckey, and need help up front just as badly as the Timberwolves do.
In all likelihood, the two most realistic trade partners for the Nuggets in this situation are the Pacers and the Clippers. T.J. Ford has been a major disappointment for the Pacers, who desperately need someone to make Jim O’Brien’s up-tempo offense work. Lawson is a monster in transition, and the Pacers are already developing Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansborough up front.
The Clippers have Baron Davis to run the point, but Davis has been unhealthy and unreliable. Lawson could give the Clippers some much-needed depth at the point guard position, not to mention a long-term successor for Davis after his contract runs out. The Clippers are already invested in 2009 #1 pick Blake Griffin up front, and getting a known commodity in Lawson could help them draw a big free agent with their cap space.
I know the Nuggets need some depth up front, but it feels like they may have put too much value on their hook in this situation. This is supposed to be a fairly top-heavy draft, and late-lottery big men are never a very safe bet. Lawson, meanwhile, followed up an extremely successful college career with a very solid rookie seasons; it’s an impressive feat for any guard to shoot 50% from the field and 40% from three, let alone a rookie guard. And it’s not like Lawson doesn’t have upside; he’s one of the fastest players in basketball, he’s a pure point who knows how to make plays, and he knows how to finish around the basket. Lawson was overlooked in the draft, and ended up being one of the best value picks of 2009. Now he’s being overlooked again, and somebody should capitalize.