Shortly after taking over the front office last year, Knicks president Steve Mills named the team’s key players without including Carmelo Anthony. Later last summer, Mills wrote about his vision for the team while again excluding Anthony.
Of course, New York traded Anthony to the Thunder just before the season.
If that set an example for how Mills’ Knicks will operate, Courtney Lee might not be long for New York. And Lee seemingly realizes it.
The Knicks touted their schedule release on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmUBDhlhO10/?hl=en&taken-by=nyknicks
That graphic includes seven of the eight Knicks who played most last season and remain under contract plus New York’s two draft picks:
- Enes Kanter
- Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Frank Ntilikina
- Lance Thomas
- Kevin Knox
- Mitchell Robinson
- Trey Burke
- Emmanuel Mudiay
But Lee – who led the Knicks in playing time last year by a wide margin – doesn’t appear. His response:;
Is Courtney Lee done in NY? 👀 pic.twitter.com/BcQubwaegj
— New Era Knicks (@NewEraKnicks) August 11, 2018
Lee, 32, no longer fits on the rebuilding Knicks. He’s a Phil Jackson signing.
Though Lee is probably somewhat overpaid (guaranteed $12,253,780 this season and $12,759,670 the following year), he could still help plenty of teams. 3-and-D wings are in demand.
It always seemed likely the Knicks would would try to trade Lee.
Their Instagram post provides even more evidence he’s headed out.
