Report: Golden State Warriors, David Lee likely to part ways
The Golden State Warriors and forward David Lee will likely part ways, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
Stein reports that the Warriors will help the former All-Star find a new team. The move comes just one day after the Warriors captured their first NBA title in 40 years by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.
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In the Finals, Lee tallied 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in the Game 3 loss in Cleveland. He followed up that performance with nine points, five rebounds and three assists in Game 4.
Lee is the second-longest tenured player with the Warriors after being acquired in a trade with the New York Knicks on July 10, 2010, in exchange for Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf. In his five seasons with the Warriors, Lee started 280 games averaging 16.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. His role diminished in 2015 as he only started four of the 49 games in which he appeared and was replaced in the lineup by Draymond Green.
“It’s really been a great learning experience for me this year,” Lee said in an interview with ESPN's NBA Insiders. “And while it’s been frustrating as a competitor to not be in there as much as I want to be in there, it's been kind of cool to let go of my ego this year and say, ‘Hey, this is about the team.’”
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Lee has one year remaining on the six-year, $80 million contract he signed with the Warriors in 2010. He is scheduled to earn $15.4 million in 2016.
The NBA free-agency period begins on July 1. The Golden State Warriors are expected to match any offer to Green during the restricted free-agency period and may also explore an extension with forward Harrison Barnes.
- Christopher Chavez
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