Notes: 2009: Selected by Minnesota in 1st round (18th overall) of the NBA Draft; Traded to Denver for a 1st round draft pick, June 25th...2012: Re-signed with Denver to a four-year contract extension worth $48 million, Oct. 30th.
NBA DRAFT ANALYSIS: 2008-09 ACC Player of the Year...All-American point guard who led North Carolina to the 2009 National Championship...Decided to skip his senior season and enter this draft....Is arguably the quickest player in this draft class with the ball in his hands...Is a tremendous ball-handler and has the strength to attack the basket...Averaged 16.6 ppg and 6.6 apg to go along with 2.1 spg as a junior...Has shown the ability to break the press with his dribble on numerous occasions...Had a tremendous assist/turnover ratio at UNC...Can stop on a dime for a pull-up jumper...A lack of ideal height and rather short arms are the biggest knocks on Lawson...Is not a great defender...Not a great jump shooter...Still, Lawson is one of the top prospects at his position in this draft.