Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post reports that guard Ty Lawson was a no-show for his workout with the Denver Nuggets, who reportedly had expressed the most interest in him up to this point.

Lawson was a no-show at the Nuggets’ college player workouts Sunday, two days after he was arrested in Chapel Hill, N.C., and charged with driving after consuming alcohol. According to Nuggets coach George Karl, Lawson, 20, also had been dealing with nagging injuries. But Karl still was surprised not to see him.

“When I was coming this morning, I thought he was going to be here,” the coach said.

Lawson and the point guard-starved Nuggets have been linked in recent days. A report from DraftExpress.com went so far as to say the Nuggets had promised to select the guard at No. 20 overall. Lawson has not hired an agent and still could return for his junior season with the Tar Heels.

Lawson continued the trail of misfortune yesterday, as he rolled an ankle in yesterday’s workout with the Washington Wizards.
Some good did manage to come out of this workout, however, as Kansas guard Mario Chalmers impressed the Denver staff.

While Lawson canceled, Kansas guard Mario Chalmers didn’t — and he has a defensive philosophy that should make the Nuggets take notice.

“I take great pride in defense,” Chalmers said. “I just try to work on my defense, try to get better and try to always guard the best player on the other team.”

As a perimeter defender, another high-level need for the Nuggets, Chalmers is one of the best options in the June 26 draft. He was routinely entrusted to guard the best opposing perimeter scorer while helping Kansas win the national championship. His size (6-1, 190 pounds) and length make him an intriguing prospect.

“Definitely a defender that can play NBA defense,” Karl said. “Athletic ability and strength and courage is prime time. The thing I can’t find in one practice, or two hours of work, is his decision-making and his ability to function. I thought at Kansas he played as much off-guard as he did point guard when I saw Kansas play.”

Chalmers also comes with a deft 3-point touch, hitting 41.9 percent in his career at Kansas. He made 46.8 percent behind the arc last season, the biggest a game-tying 3-pointer late in regulation in the NCAA title game, which KU won over Memphis in overtime.

Ever since, Chalmers admits to being something of a celebrity.

“I can’t go nowhere without being noticed nowadays,” said Chalmers, who hasn’t hired an agent but intends to stay in the draft. “But I like it.”

Jonathan Givoney of DraftExpress.com reports that with the 20th overall pick in this month’s NBA draft, the Denver Nuggets may have made a promise to North Carolina guard Ty Lawson.

Talk continues to circulate that the Denver Nuggets have promised to select Ty Lawson with the 20th pick later this month. Lawson pulled out of the NBA pre-draft camp after just one day, citing a hip-pointer, but was seen shooting around and looking absolutely fine just a few hours before he was supposed to play. He stated that if he were to be projected to be drafted outside the top-20, he will return to North Carolina, making the Nuggets precisely his cut-off point.

Denver started Anthony Carter at the point guard position in 67 of 70 games he played this season. He did an admirable job, but clearly the team is in need of an upgrade at that spot, particularly if they want to continue to play the brand of up-tempo basketball that George Karl is so fond of, and which Lawson just happens to absolutely excel at.

As Givoney states, Lawson is absolutely fit for the up-tempo game, and could be a terrific initiator in Denver’s system. Having Lawson alongside Allen Iverson may produce the smallest backcourt in the league, but it also complements their attack and could take pressure off of Iverson to be both the main scorer and playmaker in the backcourt.

Between his fit and the DUI he recently picked up, Lawson would fit right in.

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Posted By: Dustin Chapman