Golden State Warriors: 5 Teams That Would Pursue David Lee

Sacramento Kings

April 14, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts after he was called for a technical foul in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The new Sacramento Kings management has expressed that they are not looking to move DeMarcus Cousins because they plan to build a team around him. What could be better for a young player with some attitude issues than a veteran forward that could guide him on the court and off?

The Kings would be very interested in Lee, partly because he is a proven talent on a team that is largely young and unproven. The Warriors could also benefit from a combo guard like Tyreke Evans who could run the offense, spell Stephen Curry or be the penetrating guard that the Warriors wanted from a potential Eric Gordon trade.

Evans averaged 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the 2012-13 season playing only 31 minutes per game. His per 36-minute numbers (17.6/5.1/4/1) look even more promising and reflect better what he could accomplish in Golden State.

Evans would allow Golden State to run its now-famous small-ball rotation that frustrated George Karl and Gregg Popovich in the playoffs. The combo nature of Evans would only add more to a versatile lineup that would include Curry at the point, Evans as a secondary ball-handler/ shooting guard, Klay Thompson at the small forward position, Harrison Barnes at the power forward position and Andrew Bogut at center.

What this lineup loses in height is gained back in a versatility that cannot be matched. In terms of the money, this deal would work, as the Kings would sign-and-trade Evans to a $10.5 million deal using their Bird Rights, and then trade for Lee.