I'm not a fan of small PG's myself, usually, but there are the obvious exceptions of course where they have been successful--like Paul, Stockton, and IT. Believe me, I'm not "comparing" Lawson to those guys
at all, just using them as an example that there have been successful players in the NBA that are/were about his size (of course, I know you're aware of this, but I just figured I'd throw it out there).
The two things he has, in my opinion, that could make him a pretty good player in the NBA, are his speed and his perimeter shooting ability. His speed and quickness is obviously natural talent but the kid has REALLY worked on his outside shot. He was a pretty solid shooter his freshman and sophomore seasons, but somebody must've locked that kid in a gym last summer, 'cause his jumper is absolutely lights-out these days.
Good point about never having seen a UNC PG "run a falf-court set worth a damn in the NBA." I've been avidly following the NBA and college hoops since I was about 5 or 6 years old (29 now), and after reading your statement above, I started thinking of any notable PG to come out of UNC since I started following basketball damn-near 25 years ago. The only guys I could think of are Kenny Smith, Raymond Felton, and (*perhaps*) Lawson--at least as far as PG's are concerned. Lord knows they've had at least
a few other decent players to come through there over the years that played other positions.
When all is said and done, I think I'd rather go with Eric Maynor... the dude is just SCREAMIN' "steal of the draft" to me, after watching him pretty closely the past two seasons, especially when you factor in that most mocks have him in the mid-to-late teens or early 20's.