Nuggets offering Ty Lawson a $45 million extension?

Will Lawson be getting an offer from Denver soon? (Getty Images)

The deadline for contract extensions for the class of 2009 is a week away. While James Harden's situation has dominated headlines, there are a couple other very worthy players still waiting.

One absolutely being Ty Lawson.

The 24-year-old point guard has quietly risen to be one of the better point men in the league, averaging career-high numbers in points and assists per game last season. He definitely seems to fit into Denver's long-term construction plan, but the Nuggets need to lock him up.

And according to the Journal-Times, the word around the league is the Nuggets are willing to offer Lawson something in the $45-million range over four years.

Is that adequate? Too high? Too low? A max extension would be four years, $58 million, so it's definitely well under that. But compared to other elite point guards in the league, it seems to be a bargain, depending on your opinion of Lawson.

Chris Paul ($17.7 million per year) and Deron Williams ($17.1 million) are the highest-paid point guards in the league. After that, there's Russell Westbrook ($13.6 million), Derrick Rose ($16.4 million), Tony Parker ($12.5 million) and Rajon Rondo ($11 million).

Where does Lawson fit? Mike Conley got a five-year, $45-million deal. Is Lawson better than Conley? Would a four-year deal at that same number be about right for Lawson?

If the Nuggets choose not to extend Lawson now, he becomes a restricted free agent next summer and the market will determine his value. By all appearances, the Nuggets have no interest in letting Lawson get away. If this reported number is accurate, it should be enough.