Free Agent Ty Lawson A Terrible, Interesting Cavs Fit

Ty Lawson was waived today and will be a free agent. He is a terrible and interesting fit for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lawson didn’t make it even a full year with the Houston Rockets before getting bought out. Reportedly the Rockets have all kinds of problems internally. How much is Lawson isn’t known. His name rarely came up as James Harden and Dwight Howard took up enough of the ink.

Now Lawson is free, being bought out by the Rockets today:

With today being the deadline for players to be waived and still play in the NBA Playoffs, Lawson could be of interest to the Cavs and any number of contenders. His less than one year with the Rockets obviously makes him a big risk for any team.

Have to wonder if the Cavs are desperate enough to risk bringing in Lawson?

With Mo Williams out for “a couple of weeks,” it is possible that the Cavs will need another guard. Williams could return, and return to being productive, but Lawson could be insurance in case in can’t.

First let us look back at who Ty Lawson is and where is his talent. At one point, Lawson was considered a Franchise level point guard. His off the court issues, specifically related to drinking and driving, as well as reported personality conflicts with the Denver Nuggets led to his value dropping quickly.

This offseason, the Rockets sent a conditional 1st round pick and a few bench players for Lawson and a 2nd round pick. Given how the situation played out, the Nuggets got a steal.

For his career, Lawson has averaged 13 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal a game. In his last 4 seasons with the Nuggets he averaged over 6.5 assists per game and over 15 points.

While not a great outside shooter, his 3 point percentage average is 37% for his career while shooting 46% from the field and 77% from the free throw line.

All in all his numbers are very good while not overwhelming. In his best years in Denver he averaged about 13 shots a game all while controlling the pace of play.

His speed to run an uptempo offense is where his underlying value was. His Denver teams played fast and got into their offensive sets quickly. At 5’11” and under 200 pounds, Lawson was a blur with the ball in his hands.

At only 28, we can assume his physical abilities, that made him so good in Denver, are still there.

Besides the off the court issues, Lawson also was rarely a good defender. In his final season with the Nuggets, Lawson had a 106.5 Defensive Rating. His best year was in 2011-12, while playing 35 minutes a game (61 games) when he had a rating of 103.3.

For comparison, Kyrie Irving has a 104.6 Defensive Rating this season with his best being last year at 104.5.

Like Irving, Lawson’s offensive abilities, as measured by Offensive Rating, were always good enough to outweigh his defensive deficiencies.

So, should the Cavs have interest in Ty Lawson?

First, Lawson would come basically free. They are going to sign someone, most likely, to their 14th roster spot. Lawson could be that guy.

The Cavs currently have a bunch of ball dominant players with Irving and LeBron James leading the way. After those two, only Matthew Dellavedova and Williams are considered ball handlers.

In the NBA Finals last year, the Cavs struggled having anyone create. Lawson can do some of that in limited minutes.

Head Coach Tyronn Lue also wants the Cavs to play a fast pace. Lawson can clearly do that and maybe even help Irving and LeBron by modeling what it could look like to really get up and down the court.

In limited minutes, taking some of Iman Shumpert‘s or Richard Jefferson‘s, Lawson could pair with Delly, J.R. or Shumpert in the backcourt. The Cavs have also thrown out a lot of 3 guard lineups, which Lawson can help get up and down the court.

A fast paced offense with Lawson, while LeBron is on the bench, can give that unit a distinct identity. A change-up of sorts.

The Cavs are already running a short bench and Lue is trying to figure out their rotation. Adding another high usage player, last year he was 20.3% usage rate, could cause more headache for Lue and the coaching staff. The team already is struggling finding an identity, adding Lawson could create more havoc.

The off the court issues and fit in the locker room add even more concern. Lawson hasn’t been the model citizen and worked his way out of Houston very quickly. With continuity lacking, J.R. Smith‘s history of explosive behavior and reports Irving is unhappy, Lawson could be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

On the other hand, his on the court talent would be a dynamic that is sorely missing right now: Pure speed. A lineup of Lawson, Delly, J.R., Love and Channing Frye or Tristan Thompson could be electric in the open court and good enough on the defensive end. His speed could also help tire out a player like Stephen Curry trying to defend him.

A few reasons that the Cavs should have interest. A few reasons they shouldn’t.

Should Ty Lawson have interest in joining the Cavs?

Lawson could have a variety of teams interested in him but few, if any, of the top level teams will. He, like Joe Johnson, will have to choose between a chance at a ring and more playing time. The Cavs may be the one top level team desperate enough to risk signing Lawson with the hopes that LeBron, James Jones and the coaching staff can keep things in order.

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If the Cavs are interested, Lawson could have interest in return. In the Cavs, Lawson can play a very specific role while building some of the value he has lost. If he can conform and help the Cavs, even if they don’t win the NBA Title, teams are more likely to have interest in him come free agency.

Producing on a winning team. Laying aside ego. Playing in a team format. Sacrificing. Keeping his nose clean.

All things that could raise Ty Lawson’s profile should he join the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Minutes. Usage. Role. Conforming. Lack of interest from the team.

All things that could keep Lawson from being interested in the Cavs.

Should the Cavs have interest in Ty Lawson? Should Ty Lawson have interest in them?