8p9s Roundtable: Welcoming Ty Lawson to the Indiana Pacers
By Ben Gibson
With Ty Lawson coming in and Chase Budinger heading out, the 8 Points, 9 Seconds staff tries to figure out how all of this is going to work.
In case you missed it, the Indiana Pacers will buyout Chase Budinger’s contract to open up a roster spot for incoming point guard Ty Lawson. Budinger will be with the team for Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, and then the deal will be finalized. Lawson should join the team on Sunday.
The Indiana Pacers newest player is trying to shake off a poor season with the Houston Rockets and rebuild his reputation after going to rehab for alcohol last summer.
Lawson only averaged 5.8 points and 3.4 assists with Houston, but during the 2014-15 season with the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 15.2 points and 9.6 assists a game.
There are plenty of questions about him and how he’ll fit in with the Indiana Pacers, but that’s why we’ve gathered our best and brightest to sort all of this out.
Ty Lawson is joining the Indiana Pacers. What is your immediate reaction?
Will Furr: Meh. I see the logic — reclamation project, very talented but struggling so very low cost, Larry Bird wants to play faster, on and on — but meh. Maybe he turns it on, gives the Pacers 10-15 minutes per game with an actual point guard on their roster, then is indebted to Bird and stays here for cheap.
Tim Donahue: Uncertainty. I don’t really love or hate the move. I’m not fond of small point guards, and we’ll have to see how he fits both on the floor and in the locker room. Could end up being a steal, but at this point, I just don’t expect much out of it.
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Dave Searle: Like a co-worker tapped me on the shoulder and said “Hey! Do you want a free cheeseburger?” and I replied “I just ate two hours ago, but… Fuck it, why not?” Pacers aren’t going anywhere this season, so might as well give Lawson a spin to see if he can be a Billionaire’s Rodney Stuckey.
Jeremy Comstock: Sure. Why not?
Jon Washburn: Like the infamous Evan Turner deal, this is a low-risk, high-reward type of move. Worst case scenario: Lawson flames out dramatically because of off-court issues and the Pacers are forced to play Joe Young and Glenn Robinson, III (Budinger’s replacement) more. Best case scenario: Lawson turns it around and BAM! Indiana gets a former top 12 point guard for nothing. I hope it works out for Lawson and the Pacers.
Ryan Barth: Hopefully he can get some playing time late in the 4th quarter. Certainly can’t be any worse.
Next: Will Lawson Sink or Swim in Indiana?