David Lee Will Be Fantastic Addition For Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have signed big man David Lee after he was released by the Boston Celtics, and this should be a match made in heaven. Lee will pair nicely with Dirk Nowitzki as a couple of forwards who can shoot the ball well, and the Mavericks will benefit from his ability to score with either hand on the block.

People forget that Lee was supposed to be the starter on last season’s Golden State Warriors, but they began the year so hot with Draymond Green starting that Steve Kerr decided to demote the forward. The Celtics probably weren’t the best fit for Lee, because he didn’t get much playing time due to all the young players Boston has on their roster. One guy is super excited about the ambidextrous big man.

“We think he can play both big positions, some four and some backup five,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said to ESPN. “I just think he’s a quality veteran player who has been in a situation in Boston where they were overstocked and decided to go with some younger guys. We believe he can help us.”

Lee played five seasons with the Warriors before being traded to the Celtics this past offseason. He has career averages of 14.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 30.9 minutes, and he’ll get the chance to help the Mavericks make the playoffs. Lee deserves credit for the way that he handled his demotion last season, and it would be great for him to have a larger role on a contender. Nowitzki is definitely a fan of this pickup by Dallas, and he called Lee a “smart player” recently.

The Mavericks would make the playoffs if the season ended today, but it would help them advance if they had home court in at least the first round. This would require catching the Los Angeles Clippers in the standings, and Lee can be an asset for Dallas in this quest.

He’s a proven veteran who can aid them immensely in the postseason, and the Mavericks were smart for taking a flyer on him, especially considering the lack of financial risk. It remains to be seen whether or not he’ll be a starter on this team, but it never hurts to have depth. Dallas made a really fantastic move here.