8p9s Roundtable: Welcoming Ty Lawson to the Indiana Pacers
By Ben Gibson
Which players will benefit most from the addition of Lawson, and who does this hurt?
Furr: If he’s decent, this helps Rodney Stuckey and C.J. Miles a good bit. It frees Stuckey up to play off the ball, and gets Miles out in the open court with 2 guys (Stuck and Lawson) who love to run and suck the D in to the hoop. It hurts Joe Young, who’s minutes will almost certainly be completely missing. This move might send Young back to the D-League though, which might not be bad in the long run.
Donahue: Hurt is easier to see — Joe Young for sure, probably George Hill, and maybe Monta Ellis. It’s going to inject some uncertainty into the backcourt, and it’s tough to tell how that will play out. If it works out, then it might help take pressure off Paul George and get better looks for Pacer shooters – though I’m not sure who qualifies as “Pacer shooters.”
Hurt is easier to see — Joe Young for sure, probably George Hill, and maybe Monta Ellis. — Tim Donahue
Searle: I can see Jordan Hill and Lavoy Allen enjoying an extra easy bucket per game. If Lawson plays well, we might see Rodney Stuckey rot in the corner more often than not. And remember – Roy Hibbert seemed insulted when Bynum was signed. Will George Hill react in a similar fashion, or will Coach Pop’s favorite player be the consummate pro? If Hill dyes his hair red, look out.
Comstock: I don’t really know if anyone benefits, but I don’t think it really hurts anyone either.
Washburn: This pretty obviously hurts Joe Young. If Lawson is good, Young might not even be on the roster next year, and second round draft picks are never assured of sticking in the league.
Conversely, this might really help a guy like Lavoy Allen. Lawson’s quickness and floor spacing should open up more room on the offensive glass for Lavoy, and he should probably have even more space around the top of the key for his open jump shots.
Barth: Hurts Joe Young as he will likely be headed to the D league before too long. Jordan Hill and Stuckey should both get much better looks now and the bench might get out on the fast break occasionally with Ty’s speed.
Next: Goodbye, Chase Budinger