Celtics make David Lee available on the trade market
Recent talks in the NBA rumor mill has David Lee as the center of attention in terms of possible trades for the Celtics. Via David Aldridge of NBA.com:
The Celtics have been very solid, but Coach Brad Stevens has a minutes problem, as evidenced by the lack of time for David Lee—whose expiring contract is available, per league sources. Danny Ainge has any number of movable pieces that could be packaged; no other teams has the guard inventory Boston has, with young, controllable talent like Marcus Smart, James Young and R.J. Hunter mixing with current incumbents Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas. The logjam is no less severe up front, with Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger and Jae Crowder and Jonas Jerebko and Amir Johnson and Tyler Zeller. And after Boston's inability to move up in the last couple of Drafts, Ainge might be more inclined to make a deal in season.
Lee is averaging 7.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, on 47% from the floor. The big man is not having the best statistical season of his career but that's understandable given that he's coming off the bench. With so many big bodies that Boston has, it's easy to see why Lee is on the trading "chopping block". If there is a team interested in acquiring him it would most likely be a contending team that could use another big guy off the bench, or a team that's looking to receive expiring contracts.
As the trade deadline approaches, things should become more clear in terms of what the Celts want to do in terms of acquring players. One thing is for sure though and that is David Lee and his contract should be a big player in whatever the Cs decide to do.
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