Former Sacramento Kings guard Ty Lawson was arrested July 16 in Castle Rock, Colorado, after allegedly stealing a $34 bottle of Tito’s vodka from a liquor store, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX31 in Denver.
The California Post, a West Coast sister publication of the New York Post, reported that Lawson repeatedly directed racial insults at a police officer while being booked into the Douglas County Jail, calling the officer “b----” and “white b----.”
Lawson, 38, has been arrested multiple times since 2008, including several DUI arrests.
On the court, Lawson built a decorated college résumé before reaching the NBA. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year while helping North Carolina win the NCAA championship in 2009, and he also took home the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top point guard.
He entered the league as the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 draft and went on to average 12.7 points and 6.0 assists across eight NBA seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers and Kings.
Lawson spent his first six seasons with Denver, then played for Houston and Indiana in 2015-16 before signing with Sacramento in August 2016. He appeared in 69 games for the Kings in 2016-17, making 25 starts and averaging 9.9 points and 4.8 assists in 25.1 minutes per game.
His final regular-season NBA game was one to remember: Lawson recorded the first triple-double of his career with 22 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a 129-104 win over the Phoenix Suns.
He later signed with the Washington Wizards for the 2018 NBA playoffs, where he averaged 5.8 points and 3.0 assists in 19.2 minutes per game in a first-round series against the Toronto Raptors.
In Other News...
Lance McCullers Jr.'s Brewers Stint Took An Unexpected Turn Fast
Lance McCullers Jr.s brief stop in Milwaukee already looks like a footnote in the larger Astros-Brewers deal that sent him and Colton Gordon to the other side of the trade ledger. The Brewers took on some of McCullers remaining contract money, but the move was always about more than just one pitcher changing uniforms, with Houston using the deal to clear salary as the trade deadline approached.
McCullers made two outings for Milwaukee before the club designated him for assignment, and now his next step depends on how the waiver process plays out. If he clears, a return to Houston on a minor-league deal is on the table, which would make this one of those rare late-July transactions that circles right back to where it started. [Read more 🡒]
Another Contender Is Suddenly Circling An Astros Cornerstone Shortstop
The Red Sox have already made one move to reshape the infield, sending Connelly Early to Washington to land Curtis Mead, and now their deadline focus appears to be turning to shortstop. According to USA Todays Bob Nightengale, Boston is looking at a pair of controllable options in Zach Neto of the Angels and Jeremy Pena of the Astros, which tells you the club is not just shopping for help, but for a long-term answer at a premium position.
For Houston, Penas name surfacing in that kind of conversation is the part worth noting. He remains under club control for several more years, which makes him the sort of player contenders do not pry loose easily, and any serious pursuit would figure to come with a steep price. Even so, the fact that Boston is circling a player with Penas profile is another reminder that the deadline market can get aggressive fast when a team decides it wants impact, not just depth. [Read more 🡒]
Hunter Brown Finally Looked Like The Astros Ace Joe Espada Saw
Hunter Brown gave the Astros exactly the kind of start they have been waiting to see, working seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in a 4-1 win over the White Sox. It was the kind of outing that fit the confidence Joe Espada had shown in him even through an injury-plagued season, and it marked Browns first trip into the seventh inning this year.
Browns stuff looked sharper, too, with his pitch speeds up across the board and his fastball and sinker showing a little more life. After allowing a single to Munetaka Murakami in the fourth, he settled in and retired 12 straight batters, the sort of stretch that made this feel less like a good night and more like a possible turning point. [Read more 🡒]
