Ty Lawson didn’t draw much interest from the Indiana Pacers for a return after a short stint last season and has now signed with the Sacramento Kings.
Ty Lawson had very few memorably moments in the Hoosier State. Larry Bird signed the embroiled point guard last season after a combination of personal problems and poor play led to him getting bought out by the Houston Rockets.
Bird hoped he might be getting a rare talent on a near-free contract. And there were a few instances of the waterbug floor general driving the lane to create chaos, either finishing himself at the rim or kicking out to teammates for drive.
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But any success was fleeting and Lawson was neither good nor reliable in the team’s playoff series loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Still, both Bird and new head coach Nate McMillan name-checked the sub-6-footer in the Pacers introductory press conference. That seemed odd for a fringe rotation player who spent some of his time in blue and gold injured and had left little mark on the team in the 20 game he played (including regular season and playoffs). But oddly enough, it sounded like both Bird and McMillan believed he could be a big part of the rotation for a team that was looking to get faster and more offensive-minded.
Ultimately, however, those comments just turned out to be more quizzical post-season words from the team president, and we heard little traction about Ty Lawson and a new contract. By the time Bird signed Aaron Brooks — a backup point guard with a similar skill set and way lower ceiling — it was clear that Lawson’s time in Indiana was over.
And now he has found a new home.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Lawson has signed a one-year deal with the Kings.
With all the money flying around this summer, it is a bit of a surprise that a player with Ty Lawson’s resume could not garner a bit more interest. Woj reported that the New Orleans Pelicans also had “serious interest,” but that talks between the two parties scheduled for later this week were cut off after Sacramento made a formal offer.
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The 28-year-old will now try to rebuild his career.
He struggled with alcohol-related issues during the end of his tenure with the Denver Nuggets. After getting arrested for a second DUI, he entered rehab at Cliffside Malibu in California. The Rockets picked him up after that, hoping that his talent would lead to a return to his earlier-career form.
He never clicked in Texas though and the same goes for Indiana.
Now, hopefully, the man can get his career back on track in Sacramento — emotionally and mentally, first, then on the hardwood.