Sacramento Kings: Can Ty Lawson Rehab His Value?

The Sacramento Kings may be dysfunctional, but they present a good opportunity for Ty Lawson to turn his NBA career around.

The Sacramento Kings came into the offseason unsettled in the backcourt. They saw a resurgence from Rajon Rondo last season, but were lukewarm on bringing him back to the team this season.

They eventually decided against bringing him back, as he signed a two-year, $27 million deal with the Chicago Bulls.

With Rondo moving on, the Kings were in need of a point guard. They selected Isaiah Cousins out of Oklahoma in the second round of the NBA Draft, but there is no guarantee that he makes the final roster.

Garrett Temple is a combo guard that they signed as a free agent, but the need for a point guard still persists.

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That need has been alleviated this week, as the Kings agreed to a one-year deal with Ty Lawson. The deal between the Kings and Lawson was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.

This is a deal that has been met with skepticism. The Kings are one of the most dysfunctional organizations in the NBA currently, as the front office cannot get on the same page.

It has caused for a ripple effect throughout the organization, as it made Dave Joerger the sixth head coach in as many seasons this offseason.

Joerger had his hands full already with the roster assembled, as there are a lot of combustible pieces in one place. DeMarcus Cousins is supremely talented but has shown difficult to deal with. Add in Matt Barnes and now Lawson, and things could get out of hand quickly.

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Lawson has seen his career go off the rails in recent seasons as off-court troubles have haunted him. Lawson has multiple DUI’s on his record, tainting his reputation. It has become a toxic one, as Lawson struggled mightily during the 2015-16 season.

After averaging 14.2 points and 6.6 assists per game in six seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Lawson managed to average only 5.7 points and 3.6 assists per game with the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers last season.

In 2014-15, Lawson had a strong season with 15.2 points and a career high 9.2 assists per game. But the Nuggets grew tired of his antics and moved him.

Lawson will be only 29 years old on Nov. 3, but he could be running out of chances in the NBA. He seems to have an understanding of this when talking with Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

He opened up to Spears during an interview, discussing the misconceptions of his life off the court, namely the alcohol problems.

"Things happened in the media because I drank and drove. But I’m not a person out here like everyone thinks that I’m drunk all day. No, I don’t do that. A lot of my friends, we go out and celebrate. But I’m not that person in the morning getting drunk before practice. I think there is a big misconception about what everybody thinks. That’s what I basically tell them. I keep it honest."

With Lawson being so open, it is now time for him to make it happen again on the court. The Kings seem like the wrong place to try turning around a career, but this could be a good landing spot for Lawson.

For starters, Joerger is a good head coach. He gets the most of his players, as he led a decimated Memphis Grizzlies team to the postseason last season. From that perspective, it is a solid landing spot for Lawson.

On the court, Lawson should have minutes available right away. Darren Collison is dealing with off-court issues of his own, as he is facing two domestic violence charges. That could lead to a fine or suspension for Collison, who is set to go to trial starting Sept. 8.

Even if Collison is not suspended, Lawson has little competition for minutes backing him up.

Lawson will have a chip on his shoulder this season, as he was overlooked during free agency.

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A player that is only a year removed from averaging more than 15 points and nine assists per game are not easy to find, yet the Kings landed him in the final days of August, mere weeks before training camp starts.

Lawson will also want to remove the stigma that has been attached to him over the past year. He is doing the right things this offseason as he told Spears in their interview and is feeling confident again.

The Kings also rehabbed the value of Rondo last season, giving Lawson some hope it can happen for him this season. While George Karl is no longer running the show, meaning the Kings pace offensively will come down, this is still a good opportunity for Lawson.

Lawson will have consistent minutes and a defined role with the Kings. A solid coaching staff led by Joerger should help as well.

If Lawson can put together a season without any incidents off the court and get back to the same level he played at with the Nuggets, he will set himself up well for free agency next season.

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Lawson knows this could be his last chance to land a lucrative contract and should be able to parlay that into a successful season. The Kings may not be looked at as the best organization in the NBA, but it represents a good opportunity for Lawson to turn his career around.