Kings and George Karl Would Like to Get Ty Lawson

Feb 25, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a call during the third quarter of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 102-90. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

George Karl was hired as Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings over the All Star break and they immediately started to turn over the Kings roster. Karl and Kings General Manager (and former Nuggets executive) Pete D’Alessandro made a move at the trade deadline to reunite Karl with his favorite point guard, Andre’ Miller. They also made other moves that could open up salary cap room next offseason. Now rumors have started to swirl that Karl would also like to reunite with Nuggets Point Guard Ty Lawson. Dan Feldman with Probasketballtalk posted an article yesterday that speculated on the Kings interest in Lawson. The article quoted Howard Beck of Bleacher report as saying that the Kings have internally discussed going after Lawson in a trade after the season:

"Sources say Karl would love to acquire Ty Lawson—if the rebuilding Nuggets were to make him available—or any other members of his last Nuggets team, which won 57 games in 2012-13. Karl wants players who move the ball and push the tempo, and that could mean wild upheaval on the Kings roster. Even DeMarcus Cousins, their franchise center, is not untouchable, according to a source with insight into Karl’s thinking. “At the trade deadline, everyone was available,” the person said. Including Cousins? “Every single person (on the Kings roster) was available.” Although Karl does not hold a front office title, “he definitely has control” of future personnel decisions, the source said."

This does not surprise me as Karl always thought that Lawson could be a top 5 point guard in the league and he also knows how to run Karl’s uptempo offense and that fits Lawson’s game better than the half court scheme that Nuggets coach Brian Shaw is trying to implement. During the final days before the trade deadline, there was much speculation that the Nuggets would be willing to part with Lawson for the right package of players and/or draft picks. Based on the way Lawson is being used (or not being used) by Shaw in recent games, it may be possible that Lawson’s days in Denver are numbered. One name that Feldman brought up in the post that might be a trade possibility for Lawson was oft-troubled Center DeMarcus Cousins. Although the Nuggets are very high on Rookie Yusef Nurkic, Cousins is an All Star and one of the top 5 centers in the game if you can deal with his sometimes confusing personality and attitude. The salaries would work in this scenario as well so it could be that the Nuggets can get an All Star center and a draft pick in return for Lawson.

The way the Nuggets season has spun completely out of control, it would not surprise me to see the Nuggets make a fairly big splash in the offseason. One of the things they could do is trade a visibly disgruntled Lawson and get some serious value in return. It will be interesting after the season to see how hard the Kings come after Lawson and what they offer in return. If the price is right the Nuggets may bite.

Next: Five Ways the Nuggets Can Salvage Their Season

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