In light of John Wall’s knee injury, the Washington Wizards are thin at the point guard position. They’d be wise to search the free agent market for help. Veteran Ty Lawson is a viable option.
It’s no secret that the Washington Wizards have long struggled to find an effective backup point guard. Whenever John Wall has been unable to play in the past, or even takes a seat on the bench, the offensive production take a dip.
Wall’s recent knee injury is expected to sideline him for two weeks, leaving Tim Frazier as the only primary point guard on the roster. Frazier hasn’t been terrible this season, but some games he has failed to meet expectations. He’s averaging just 3.6 points and 3.8 assists per game. Tomas Satoransky is also a viable option at the 1, however he’s more of a utility player than a true point guard.
While Bradley Beal will surely take on more playmaking duties in Wall’s absence, the Wizards need to find another point guard capable of providing an offensive spark. Not just in the two weeks that Wall is out, but for the rest of the season.
Enter Ty Lawson.
Lawson, 30, has seen his fair share of action around the league. After performing at a borderline all-star level for much of his six seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Lawson has played for three different teams in the past three seasons.
His production has tailed off since his days in Denver. However, he proved last year that he can still produce when given the opportunity. In 25.1 minutes per game with the Sacramento Kings, Lawson averaged 9.9 points and 4.8 assists, while shooting 45.4 percent from the field. Nonetheless, the Kings opted not to retain him this season.
Lawson brings many valuable skills to the table. He’s has never been a great shooter, but his career three-point mark of 35.9 percent is adequate. He’s also a proven playmaker, having averaged 8.8 assists per game in 2013-14, and 9.6 assists per game in 2014-15.
This isn’t to say he’s the only free agent option available, of which there are many. However, Lawson is an established veteran who could bring offensive production and leadership to the Wizards.
Even after an impressive game against the Trail Blazers, Tim Frazier will likely continue to struggle at times. When he does, the Wizards lack a point guard capable of creating consistent offense off the bench.
Lawson thrives in this area, and Ernie Grunfeld should pick up the phone and bring him in.