When the Denver Nuggets traded Chauncey Billups in the Carmelo Anthony deal to the New York Knicks, it was apparent that backup Ty Lawson would become the starter. Even with receiving Raymond Felton in return, the Nuggets decided they would still go with Lawson. And now what was pretty much a given has come to fruition: the Nuggets exercised the fourth-year option (2012-13) on Lawson's contract.
In his second year, Lawson averaged 11.7 points, 4.7 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 80 games. As a starter in 31 games, he put up 14.6 points, 6.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Before the start of the 2010-11 season, the Nuggets picked up the third-year option on Lawson's contract for the 2011-12 season.
Lawson will be on the books in 2012-13 for just over $2.5 million and will enter restricted free agency in summer 2013. As a result of all of this, Raymond Felton looks more than expendable in a trade to shore up some other position on the court. Will the Nuggets look to draft another point guard on Thursday in the 2011 NBA Draft?