Denver Nuggets Make Noise in NBA Draft: Trade 2010 Pick for Ty Lawson

The Nuggets came into the 2009 draft on Thursday with no picks in the first round, as the 34th pick was their only choice.

Denver set themselves up for yet another quiet, unimpactful, boring draft without getting any players that can help the future of the franchise as a whole.

However, what Nuggets GM Rex Chapman was planning would shock and awe the Mile High maniacs of Denver.

While Denver did not make any trades as I thought they would, they did address their biggest glaring weakness at point guard, namely a young backup to Chauncey Billups, as I said would happen. 

While Jonny Flynn went much earlier than many "experts" expected, at six rather than 10, the Nuggets were able to grab a steal of a deal on Lawson at the 18th pick.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, as they took Ricky Rubio and Flynn at picks five and six, also originally took Lawson with their 18th pick, then traded him for the Nuggets 2010 first rounder, a pick that will likely be much lower next year.

Lawson will be trading in his North Carolina Blue for the Nuggets' Blue and Gold. Another thing his past has in common with his future is the fact that he played for Oak Hill Academy in high school, Carmelo Anthony's Alma matter.

Lawson, at 5' 11" and 195 pounds, is a smaller point guard in today's NBA, a full five inches shorter than current starter Billups, but Billups is the biggest point guard in the game today.

While Billups uses his size, strength, and absolutely high basketball IQ, Lawson will use his speed, quickness, and raw athleticism to cross and blow by players at the NBA level.

Lawson's biggest strength is his speed and quickness, as he can drive to the basket, finishing a lay-up while drawing contact.

A sure-fire, fast way to earn and-ones in the NBA, plays that weren't called fouls in the NCAA. He also can use his speed to beat defenders on coast to coast runs down the court.

Lawson's next best strengths include getting great position and stealing the ball on errant passes, and shooting the deep ball.

Although the NCAA's three-point arc is much closer than the NBA's, Lawson boosted his shooting from 36 percent to an astonishing 47.2 percent last year. All of his abilities can be seen in this highlight reel I found on YouTube.

Ty Lawson used all his abilities to his advantage in the 2008-09 season; being given the Bob Cousy award, which is awarded to the best point guard in the country, was named the MVP of the ACC, all while leading his North Carolina Tar Heels to the National Championship.

Lawson's weaknesses could include his lack of size, that will make it tough to play defense against larger offenders in the NBA, his basketball IQ, and he will have to develop a good inside-out passing game.

However, it could be a perfect situation for Lawson and the Nuggets organization, as Lawson will be able to learn under the tutelage of Billups, once the 2004 Playoff MVP while leading the Pistons to a championship.

Billups, just finishing his 11th pro season, has at least three to four more good seasons before he declines significantly. Lawson can use this time to learn from one of the game's greats, and attempt to make a name for himself in the league.

If all works out perfectly, Lawson will become the backup point guard next year, and will be the starter in two to three year's time.

As for current backup Anthony Carter, all could be over for him and his career in Denver. Carter has said publicly that he would like to end his career in the Nuggets baby blue, but that may happen much sooner than expected with Lawson coming to town.

But, for Denver, Lawson will be a great improvement over the older, and less wise Carter in the long haul.

Carter, once the starter for Denver, saw a major drop off in game-time in 2008-09, and had many costly turnovers throughout the season, chiefly in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers.

When all is said and done, this will prove to be one of the biggest moves of the 2009 draft, prove Rex Chapman a great GM, and will be a huge improvement to the Nuggets franchise overall.

Ty Lawson will be a great player in the NBA, one of the greatest point guards in Denver Nuggets history.