Ty Lawson’s tenure with the Denver Nuggets ended after the point guard was arrested for a DUI. Lawson’s second DUI arrest was too much for Nuggets brass to deal with anymore.
Lawson checked himself into a rehab center for 30 days and, according to his new teammate James Harden, he is now a changed man.
Harden spoke with the Houston Chronicle‘s Jonathan Feigen about Lawson after spending some time with the point guard.
“Ty is definitely going to help us,” Harden said during a break in the Kroger Unplug and Play James Harden Basketball ProCamp in The Woodlands on Saturday. “He gives us that quickness, that speed, playmaking ability, something that we were missing, especially deep in the playoffs. We’re going to welcome him with open arms. We’re happy to have him.”
Harden said he has already spent enough time with Lawson to be “not at all” concerned that Lawson will return to his issues.
“He’s out in California right now working out,” Harden said. “We’re happy to have him. He’s going to be a great addition to our team. I’ve been with him these last couple weeks. He’s more focused than ever. He has a great opportunity with a really good team to showcase his talents and help us with that push that we need.”
Lawson, who averaged 15.2 points and 9.6 assists last season, is an upgrade offensively at the point guard position and should help the Rockets return to the Western Conference Finals.