Courtney

Lee

Lee underwent calf surgery in 2020 and was signed to the Mavericks training camp roster last December. However, he was waived prior to the start of the 2020-21 season. Yet, the 35-year-old denied retirement rumors and is looking to prove he is still worth an NBA roster spot, telling ESPN’s Tim MacMahon: “I’m 100% recovered [from 2020 calf surgery] and hoping I can get on with a team for training camp. I am definitely not retired.”

It’s possible the 35-year-old sharpshooter will be able to land a minimum-level deal with a contending team, but he’s well past his days of relevancy in fantasy hoops, and there are no guarantees he’ll be on an NBA roster this upcoming season.

Lee’s a fan favorite in Dallas and it was nice to see him back on the court tonight, but with Josh Richardson and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the fold, Lee is going to be an afterthought in fantasy this season.

Lee isn’t likely to make the final roster, but team owner Mark Cuban has rewarded both Lee and outgoing guard Barea with non-guaranteed camp deals. It’s a classy gesture from the Mavs organization.

Stein adds Lee is a popular veteran in the Dallas locker room, and earlier reports have noted Lee is highly respected by Luka Doncic. The Mavs are not expected to waive Lee even though he’ll enter free agency if/when the Mavs are eliminated from the postseason. If he is still with the team and the Mavs get hit with injuries or illnesses, they could be more likely to cut him to allow them to sign another player.

The Mavs like his leadership in the locker room and it appears that he’s highly respected by Luka Doncic. The Mavs have the option of picking up another player for the playoff run, but they’d have to waive Lee to do it. And it doesn’t sound like that’s going to happen.

The Mavericks will be looking to add reinforcements when the league’s one-week transaction window opens on Tuesday. Veteran free agents and G-League players can be signed over the next seven days and a guy like Jamal Crawford could draw interest from the Mavs. However, they would have to waive Lee in order to replace him, so it remains to be seen if they’ll go down that road over the next week.

Lee has carved out a steady 18-24 minute role for the Mavs, but he’s still just a low-end guy for steals and a few 3-pointers. There are more appealing specialists available in almost any fantasy league.

THJ missed Friday’s game with an illness, though he was originally listed as questionable due to a bruised left shoulder. He will most likely be a game-time call versus Indiana. Seth Curry (ankle) has already been ruled out and Dorian Finney-Smith (hip) is questionable, so guys like Delon Wright, Courtney Lee, J.J Barea and Justin Jackson could be in for a big uptick in minutes if THJ also sits.

Kleber and Lee move into the starting lineup, as Kristaps Porzingis (rest) and Seth Curry (back) have been ruled out. Kleber is definitely worth a look due to his production as a rebounder/shot blocker, and he can get fantasy owners a couple 3-pointers as well. Lee, on the other hand, can be left on the waiver wire.