Director of NBA scouting says Lawson's draft status unaffected by incident

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Director of NBA scouting says Lawson's draft status unaffected by incident

Tar Heel Ty Lawson waits on defense.

By Dane Huffman

Jun 6, 2008

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Ty Lawson’s arrest in Chapel Hill will not affect his draft status, the NBA’s director of scouting told WRAL Friday afternoon.

Marty Blake said from his office in Alpharetta, Ga., that he projects Lawson as a first-round pick, and his arrest for drinking and then driving won’t affect that.

“It’s not going to make any difference. I think this is an isolated case,” Blake said.

Lawson told WRAL last week that he would turn professional if he projected as a top-20 pick.

Blake said many NBA clubs are looking for point guards and praised Lawson’s quickness and overall ability.

“I think he’d be drafted in the first round. He is a very good basketball player. He has very good speed,” Blake said.

“From all indications, he’ll be drafted in the first round, from what teams have told me.”

Lawson is one of three UNC underclassmen considering the NBA draft. Guard Wayne Ellington and swing Danny Green also have until June 16 to withdraw from the draft, which will be June 26. Both Ellington and Green are hoping to show clubs they are worthy of first-round consideration. First-round picks get guaranteed contracts and second-round picks do not.

Blake said he couldn’t project where Ellington and Green would be drafted.

Another local player, N.C. State center J.J. Hickson, is also considering an early jump to the NBA. Hickson had been invited to the NBA’s pre-draft camp last week in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. but was not on the list when it was released.

Blake said the NBA was willing to have the top 15 prospects go to the camp for physicals only, but no more than that. Many prospects want to do the physicals but not play in the games. Lawson, Ellington and Green did play.

Asked about Hickson, Blake said, “We felt we had the top 15. Hickson was not one of the top 15.

“He said he’d come to take a physical and we said, ‘Stay home.’ Now, I can see where a guy like Hickson will go 20 and he’s perfectly happy.”

Most Recent Comments

.03? sounds like he just had a couple beers and called it a night. he probably wouldn't have been pulled if he didn't have his music so loud...but oh well. there are worse things he could've done than to have a drink or two underage...just being a typical college kid in my opinion.

So he was drinking under age. He blew a .03! Doubt he even had a buzz going. I would have to say that nobody was really in any danger.

Dumb on his part to even drive after drinking anyway. But... honestly... who doesn't? He's underage. OH LORD... like none of us drank while underage.

Come on people... seriously!

Thug, Lawson? What player have you been watching for the past two years AlleyOops? Yes he made a mistake and luckly nobody was killed or hurt. Hopefully Lawson will learn from his mistake...

Well, they always said he was a NBA style player. This arrest proves it. Nothing left for him to do but get caught with a handgun or some pot and have a couple of illegitimate kids. I hope this incident will wake him up.

AlleyOops, would you please clarify the ways in which Lawson has "always been a thug"? I would like facts please. Thanks.

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