Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors have attempted to get David Lee’s name into trade talks, but the conversation with other NBA teams kept breaking down. The Warriors have reportedly made two legitimate attempts to get rid of Lee in exchange for either Andrea Bargnani or LaMarcus Aldridge earlier in the offseason. At this point, should Golden State continue to purse suitors for Lee or accept that he will remain on the team?
Many questioned why the Warriors did not deal Lee at the trade deadline this past season. Obviously, he was playing at a very high level, which helped propel the team into the postseason. With that being said, Golden State could have received quite a bit in return for him because he was performing so well.
The 30-year-old is a legitimate offensive threat who averaged 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game last season. However, his defense is the big concern. Lee is not known as a defensive power forward and even the addition of center Andrew Bogut, who is known more for his defense then his ability to score points, did not appear to help the veteran. This could be a big reason why no team is willing to give up too much to acquire him.
Personally, I believe the Warriors should hang on to Lee, as he is essential to Golden State making a deep playoff run during the 2013-14 NBA season. The combination of Bogut and him could be detrimental for opposing teams if both players can stay healthy. Lee is recovering from right hip flexor surgery at the moment. However, when the two big men begin practicing together later this summer, the Warriors may witness something very special.
