National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran David Lee wasn't among the names to be moved at the trade deadline but that doesn't mean he is staying put with the Boston Celtics.
Lee was eventually waived by the Celtics, meaning the 32-year-old center forward is now free to negotiate with teams. Several teams are in pursuit of the one-time NBA champion, but the Dallas Mavericks reportedly have the inside track of signing up Lee.
The Mavericks have a $2.1 million exception which stands as the best option for Lee at the moment. One of Lee's frustrations when he joined the Celtics is playing time, and he is hopeful that the Mavs are the team that can give him such.
After being a vital cog of the Golden State Warriors campaign last season, Lee was traded in the offseason to the Boston Celtics.
To his understanding, he would be able to get the playing minutes that dramatically diminished with the Warriors who opted to follow the "small ball" philosophy that led to their triumph in securing the NBA title for the 2014–15 NBA season.
Initial plans saw Lee likely playing heavy minutes and at the same time mentoring Celtic upstarts like Jared Dullinger and Kelly Olynyk. But as it turned out, head coach Brad Stevens used him sparingly and somehow leaned toward applying a "small ball" approach as well that saw Lee end up in the very same way he was in Golden State.
Lee will be eligible to see action in the playoffs if he is signed before March 1 with any team except the Warriors. If he is reconsidered, the earliest date he can rejoin Golden State is this July, which marks a year after he was traded.
The big man is expected to sit down and sign up with the Mavericks once he clears waivers. Prior to his poor numbers in Boston, Lee holds career averages of 14.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, according to ESPN.
He posted the following on his Instagram account as he bade farewell to his Boston Celtic teammates.
