UPDATE (10/17/2016):
Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger says that point guard Ty Lawson missed the team’s flight due to a “personal issue,” and will remain on the roster:
According to Joerger, no incident with Lawson. He had a personal issue. Didn't travel with team. Kings moving forward with him on roster.
— James Ham (@James_Ham) October 17, 2016
Per TMZ, Lawson was seen out late partying the night before missing the flight, although he did ask the team for permission before skipping the flight.
Ty Lawson’s talent has never been in question; he was a borderline All-Star for years with the Denver Nuggets. It is Lawson’s issues off the court that have held him back. His DUIs got him traded from Denver, and he was unable to make a serious impact on the floor for either the Houston Rockets or the Indiana Pacers. This offseason, the Sacramento Kings signed Lawson to a one-year deal. This seemed like a prudent move by the Kings given Lawson’s talent and the fact that their starting point guard Darren Collison was facing domestic abuse charges.
Lawson has played well for the Kings in preseason, but it seems as though his off-court issues may be returning, as he missed the team’s flight to the preseason game vs. the Washington Wizards on Friday, per ESPN’s Marc Stein:
Story posting now: League sources say Ty Lawson must explain himself to Kings officials after missing the team's Friday flight to Kentucky.
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 16, 2016
Stein also reports that Lawson showed up late for a shootaround:
ESPN sources say Lawson, who has been playing well in camp, was late for a shootaround, then missed the Kings' trip to the game in Lexington
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 16, 2016
