Kiz: The Rockies and the Nuggets face a similar thorny issue. Ty Lawson has become the face of a downtrodden NBA franchise. The frustration from years of losing at 20th and Blake is written all over the face of Troy Tulowitzki. A change of scenery would probably be good for both Tulowitzki and Lawson. But does either star have the nerve to force a trade? And would the Nuggets or Rockies have the courage to pull the trigger on such a huge deal?
Hooch: If Lawson demanded a trade, it would be like a boyfriend and girlfriend fighting over whose idea it was to break up with the other. Ty: “I want out! I’m leaving you!” Nuggets: “How can you demand a trade if we’re already cool with trading you?” The Nuggets will not make a playoff run with Lawson as their best player. No, they won’t necessarily get their new best player in a trade for Lawson, but it would spark the revamp. Ty is like “Gangnam Style” — so 2012. As for the Rockies, it sounds like Tulo isn’t going to force a trade in May — but talk to me in July, Troy.
Kiz: From the time Lawson was tardy returning from Las Vegas after the NBA all-star break, it seemed that while the point guard might not have played basketball with one foot out the door, his heart was not always in that Nuggets uniform when he dressed for a game at the Pepsi Center. While Tulowitzki is painfully aware the Rockies organization stinks from the top down, I believe there’s a little place in his heart where the shortstop would feel like a quitter if he pushed for a trade from Colorado.
Hooch: Tulowitzki cares. Maybe too much. As we’ve seen for years, here’s a guy who puts so much into his preparation, one wonders if he still has fun playing baseball. His passion, though, is commendable. And as a history buff, he will cherish his World Series run with the Rockies. He reminds me of a guy who will forever check the Colorado box score, even if he’s a Mariner or a Met. Here’s thinking he will be an ex-Rockie by the end of the summer.
Kiz: Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly has been itching to give his team an extreme makeover, and perhaps the easiest night of the year to make a blockbuster trade is draft night. This year’s draft is June 25. If Lawson is a member of the Nuggets on June 26, it might be only because Connelly couldn’t close a deal that makes sense. So I’m guessing Lawson will beat Tulowitzki out of town. But it also wouldn’t surprise me if both stars are gone from Denver before 2015 is history.
Hooch: Both trades will be franchise-defining, because they will set the tone of each team’s future. The Rockies must get a starting pitcher out of the Tulo deal. Every year, Tulo or not, the Rockies will presumably be among the top hitting teams in baseball, but without innings eaters, they will be among the bottom teams overall. As for the Nuggets, we will know Tuesday if they crack the top three of the draft or likely pick seventh. I see them trying to nab D’Angelo Russell, the point guard of their future. But even if the Nuggets draft a forward or center, I think they’ll have a new point guard by training camp.
