David Lee said he knows the Warriors will try to trade him this offseason.
That’s not a reluctant admission.
He’s on board and wants to help.
Marc Stein of ESPN:
Story going online now: ESPN sources say Warriors and David Lee's camp have resolved to work together to find new home for former All-Star
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 17, 2015
Lee lost his starting job to Draymond Green, and Marreese Speights and Festus Ezeli limited Lee’s minutes off the bench. Lee doesn’t want to get DNP-CDs regularly.
And the Warriors sure don’t want to pay his $15,493,680 salary – which could add about $34 million in luxury-tax payments – to sit on the bench.
Lee can help a team on the court – he helped the Warriors in the Finals – but he probably still has negative value. By that, I mean teams would prefer not to have him and his contract rather than have him in his contract.
He’s a fine player, but at 32, he has no upside remaining. Plus, his lack of outside shooting and defense limit his ability to contribute in the modern NBA.
This likely comes down to what sweeteners the Warriors would in a trade to convince another team to take Lee. They’ve already dealt their 2017 first-round pick and their and their 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 second-rounders. But their 2015 first-rounder could be dealt, as could could their first-rounders in 2019 and beyond.
Golden State sounds committed to making a trade happen. Lee sounds committed to making a trade happen.
Now, it’s just about convincing another team to take the forward. That won’t be easy, but at least the sales job will be coming from multiple directions.