Dedric Lawson’s new role with the Golden State Warriors

Former Kansas Basketball forward Dedric Lawson will be playing for the Golden State Warriors in this year’s NBA Summer League.

Dedric Lawson and fellow Memphis, Tennessee native LaGerald Vick failing to hear their names called on NBA Draft night shouldn’t have been shocking to anyone. However, it did result in another impressive Kansas basketball streak coming to an end.

This was the first year since 2009 that a Kansas Jayhawk basketball player wasn’t selected in the NBA Draft.

If it’s true that all streaks were meant to come to an end, clearly the sports gods chose 2019 as the year that ends all streaks in Lawrence, Kansas (unless your name is Bryce Hoppel).

But unlike the Big 12 championships, the NBA Draft is truly about the individual, not his former team. And a shot at a role in the NBA is their one and only goal.

Lawson wasn’t selected in the NBA Draft, but he is one of many players that will continue to fight for a spot on an NBA roster.

Lawson had one of the best individual years in the history of Kansas basketball last season. His 19.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game were enough to earn him an All-Big 12 First team and Third-team All-American selection.

But unfortunately for Lawson, his lack of athleticism was too great of an issue for an NBA team to risk a draft pick on him.

However, quickly after the completion of the 2019 NBA Draft, Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported that Lawson agreed to play in the Summer League for the Golden State Warriors.

Given Golden State’s style of play on the offensive end, Lawson may have found the team that will best compliment his skill set.

The Warriors are so successful because of their ability to stretch the floor with arguably the three the best outside shooters in the league.

Their offense isn’t about playing pick and roll and isolation basketball as a team such as the Rockets do with James Harden. Their action on offense is about all five players executing fast-paced screens and cuts to the basket.

The ideal option in any offensive set for the Warriors is to get an open three-point shot opportunity for one of their many shooters. And the opposing defense obviously knows that as well.

With that being said, that defense’s number one goal is to prevent an open three-pointer.

But with all of the screening and cutting going on, it’s easy for defenses to over-help on the shooters. And often times that leads to a Warriors big man being open and forced to make a play.

That’s where a big man such as Lawson could thrive.

While Lawson isn’t an athletic above the rim finisher, he is a great rebounder, passer and all-around scoring threat.

His passing and decision making is what really sets him apart from other big men. His court vision rivals that of a point guard, and he has the ability to pass on the move as well.

Coach Bill Self went as far as saying that Lawson was the best passing big man he’s ever coached.

A big man with the ability to pass to shooters out of the low post is always valuable on a team such as the Warriors.

Lawson’s ability to score around the rim has always been his best asset. However, his shooting improvements have taken his game to the next level.

As a sophomore, Lawson shot 27% from the 3-point line and 74% from the free-throw line. He improved those numbers significantly last season shooting 39% from three and 81% from the line.

And as far as rebounding goes, 10 rebounds per game with his athleticism speaks to his length and his ability to gain position down low.

Similar to All-Star forward Draymond Green, Lawson has the tools on offense that could cause havoc for opposing defenses that have three outstanding shooters to worry about.

While it’s extremely unlikely for Lawson to become the next Green, he could serve as a valuable role player for the Warriors in the future.

It certainly won’t be an easy road to get to that point, but Lawson has the skills necessary to get the job done.