David Lee was extremely unhappy with his lack of role with the Boston Celtics this season, and that was pretty well-known. The Celtics tried to trade Lee but couldn't find a trade partner so they instead reached a buyout agreement with him so that he could become a free agent. Lee wasn't a free agent for very long before signing a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, according to Earl K. Snead of Mavs.com.
Lee was traded from the Warriors to the Celtics before this season began, and he was expected to be one of the focal points in Boston. The Celtics, though, have a deep frontcourt and Brad Stevens decided to go in a different direction. Lee, who will become a free agent after this season, wanted to go to a team where he can get some playing time so that he could increase his value before his next contract.
Lee's deal with the Mavericks is reportedly for one year and a prorated portion of $2.1 million, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas. Dallas used its cap-room exception in order to bring in Lee.
After being bought out by the Celtics Lee made it clear that he valued playing time over winning in his next stop. For that reason choosing the Mavericks is interesting because they have a fairly deep frontcourt, but they became the favorites immediately upon his buyout with the Celtics, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports.
Although Lee wasn't in Boston's rotation for much of this season, he can still play at a high level offensively when given the opportunity. In 30 games so far this season Lee is averaging 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 15.7 minutes per game. Lee was also a huge factor in the Warriors beating the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals last season so he should help the Mavericks in their playoff push (currently sixth in the West).
To make room for Lee the Mavericks waived guard John Jenkins who averaged just 9.2 minutes in 21 games for the Mavericks this season. Lee is expected to get minutes at the backup forward and center positions in Dallas so that is likely bad news for Dwight Powell, whose minutes have been way down recently anyway, and both JaVale McGee and Salah Mejri, whose minutes have been sporadic.
