Lack of interest from other teams makes David Lee trade unlikely before deadline

If there's one move everybody knows Danny Ainge would like to make at the trade deadline this week, it's to somehow rid himself of power forward David Lee's expiring $15.5 million contract. For weeks it has been reported that if the Celtics can't trade Lee to another team, they will buy him out, and it's increasingly looking like that's exactly what they will have to do.

Lee's contract, together with his lack of playing time this season, have made him unattractive to potential suitors, although teams looking for the missing piece to face the season's stretch run could turn to him once he becomes a free agent.

"David Lee was tough for Golden State to move all of last year," an unnamed source told Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. "And it finally came down to him being moved for Gerald Wallace. David Lee has no value. It’s his contract. David Lee’s value comes in if they get one of these big name players."

Boston acquired Lee from the NBA champion Warriors this offseason, hoping the presence of a 10-year veteran would serve a young roster well. But Lee soon fell out of Brad Stevens's rotation, and he hasn't played at all since a January 10 loss at Memphis. In 30 appearances as a Celtic, four of them in the starting lineup, the two-time All-Star has averaged 7.1 points, the fewest since his rookie season, while shooting a career-worst 45.3 percent from the floor and pulling down 4.3 rebounds per game, also a career low.

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