Responding to rumors that he’s seeking a trade out of New York, veteran swingman Courtney Lee tells Ian Begley of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that he’s happy to be a Knick, refuting the idea that he prefers to be dealt. According to Begley, Lee has not expressed a desire to be moved.
A story from Marc Berman of The New York Post jump-started the Lee rumor mill, though for what it’s worth, Berman’s report doesn’t say that the 32-year-old wants to be traded. If he gets traded, Berman writes, Lee’s preference would be to join a playoff team or contender. According to the Post scribe, the Knicks have explored the trade market in search of a possible Lee deal.
Trading Lee would make sense for the Knicks, who aren’t expected to be in the playoff mix this season with Kristaps Porzingis still recovering from his ACL tear. Lee, who will turn 33 next month, is under contract for two more years, but probably isn’t part of New York’s long-term plans, and he’s coming off one of his best seasons, meaning his trade value should be higher than in the past.
In 76 games (30.4 MPG) in 2017/18, Lee averaged 12.0 PPG on .454/.406/.919 shooting, chipping in 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.1 SPG. While he might not be a difference-maker for a contending team, Lee is the sort of three-point marksman on the wing that many playoff clubs could use.
While it remains to be seen if the Knicks will push to move Lee before the season or at the trade deadline, the franchise has been sending some subtle signals this season that he’s not a future building block.
A Knicks Instagram post in August on the “Future of New York” featured a montage of nine players, including Trey Burke, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Lance Thomas, but didn’t include Lee. Earlier this week, new head coach David Fizdale referred to Thomas as a “natural” lader, but didn’t mention Lee, who was a co-captain last season alongside Thomas.
Courtney Lee needs to go to a contender. Let him go. Trade him. Hes a very reliable player and Im sure a great locker room person.
It makes sense for both sides to part ways. Lee has fallen off some from being a high end defender, but some if may be due to the fact that he’s often mismatched covering the opponent’s better wing (even if a 3) due to THJ being the other option. He’s still a great distance shooter and a good defender on 2’s and even 1’s. Only issue a contending team might have is he’s 31 and has 2 years at decent money left on his contract. But he’s played to it so far.
He’s about to be 33. Still a decent vet but probably overpaid for his skill set. If the Knicks want anything of value they’d have to take back a bad contract. Otherwise maybe they can get an expiring and a 2nd or something.