David Lee: Potential Trade Scenarios With Knicks

The Golden State Warriors front office has already accomplished its main goal in free agency: signing Draymond Green to a long-term deal (5-years, $82 million), so now it will direct its sights onto what’s next.

Looking at the Warriors’ roster, it is hard to find a place to improve, or even room for new players.

From the top, the Splash Brothers are the best backcourt in the NBA, the Dubs have the best bench in the league, and even the players at the end of the bench, such as Justin Holiday, have shown vast improvement and flashes of potential.

Due to this near-perfect roster construction, some players fell out of the rotation during the championship season. Namely, David Lee.

Due to this near-perfect roster construction, some players fell out of the rotation during the championship season. Namely, David Lee.

Lee was an All-Star just a few years ago, and in the 2013-14 season he shot over 50%, averaged 9.3 rebounds and 18.2 points per game, and led the Warriors to the playoffs. But the Warriors hired new head coach Steve Kerr, and implemented both new offensive and defensive systems.

May 3, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (left) instructs forward David Lee (10) during the first quarter in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies 101-86. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

On offense, the Warriors prided themselves on playing quickly, moving the ball quickly, and getting buckets off assists. On the defensive end, the Warriors quickly elevated themselves from being a top-5 defense to the best defense in the league by switching often, and using players who could guard multiple positions in order to never be caught in a mismatch.

At the center of this defensive system was do-it-all power forward Green. Of course, Green plays the same position as Lee, and when Lee got injured in the preseason and missed the first few weeks of the regular season, Green had cemented himself as the “heartbeat” of the team, and the best defensive player in the league. Because of Green’s emergence, and Marreese Speights‘ solid play as back up, Lee quickly found himself out of the rotation.

The problem with this was that Lee made $15.5 million, and only appeared in 49 games, mostly in garbage time when the Warriors starters and super-subs had put the opposing team away for good.

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After signing Green long-term, the front office looked at their almost-perfect roster and circled Lee’s name. What would they do with the former All-Star power forward?

If there is a flaw with the Warriors NBA-leading bench rotation, it is a lack of shooting. So naturally, trading Lee away in return for a shooter would be a perfect scenario. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect. The frontrunners to take David Lee’s large expiring contract appear to be the Indiana Pacers — in need of depth of front court after losing David West to free agency — and the New York Knicks.

The Knicks, Lee’s former team, seem to be the most likely destination for the Warriors reserve forward. However, at first glance, the Knicks have virtually zero shooting on their roster — save Carmelo Anthony — so why would the Warriors trade with them?

First, the Knicks have the cap space to take in Lee’s contract, as they cleared cap space in order to sign one or two big-name free agents, namely as LaMarcus Aldridge or DeAndre Jordan. But neither player wanted to play in the Big Apple, and the Knicks settled for former Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez. Second, the Knicks have some-sneaky good shooting. Jose Calderon (yes Jose Calderon, just hang with me for a second) shot 41.5% from beyond the arc during the 2014-15 season. That mark puts Calderon 11th in the league in three-point shooting.

Feb 1, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) dribbles the ball around Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin (17) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 92-70. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Additionally, Calderon’s shooting seemed to improve the deeper he got in the game, as he shot just 29.8% in the first quarter from three, but 51.5% in the second, 44.7% in the third, and 53.8% (!!!) in the fourth quarter.

While his percentages after the first quarter are extraordinary, even shocking, his 29.8% clip in the first quarter is worrying isn’t it? However, the Warriors barely use their bench players in the first quarter. Often, the only sub who would come on during the first quarter would be Andre Iguodala, who split minutes with starter Harrison Barnes. If Calderon’s problem is the first quarter and the pressure to get out to a good start to the game, that problem would be nullified if he joins the Warriors.

The starters, and Iguodala, would take care of the first quarter, and when Calderon is called upon, he would not have to feel pressured to start the game on a good foot for his team. Of course, the Warriors have plenty of guards, and would probably want a 4 or 5 in return for David Lee, but Calderon is a true point guard, and could be paired with Shaun Livingston in the back court. Livingston is 6-6, and can easily play and guard the shooting guard position.

This would allow the Dubs to play small even in the second lineup, and they could shift Harrison Barnes or Iguodala to the power forward position when Calderon is on the floor. Another option would simply be playing Speights more minutes, as he was one of the most efficient on the team but only played limited minutes.

Calderon could potentially be a perfect fit for the Dubs, but if the Knicks are unwilling to part ways with the point guard, he is not the only option on the Knicks roster who could fit with the Warriors.

Ricky Ledo is virtually unknown name, but he could prove valuable to the Dubs if they were to receive, say, him and a future draft pick in a trade for Lee. Ledo is a 6″7 shooting guard, and can guard every position from point guard to small forward. While Ledo only shot 37% from the three-point line this past season, he averaged 2.8 rebounds a game from the shooting guard position, an already solid number that can only go up with the coaching of Warriors assistant coaches, who specialize in player development.

Mar 25, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Ricky Ledo (11) drives past Los Angeles Clippers forward Glen Davis (0) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Los Angeles Clippers won 111-80. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Of course, Ledo’s numbers will blow nobody away, and he only played in 22 games last season. However, having a young player who can guard multiple positions and can be given time to develop is supremely valuable in today’s small-ball position-less NBA, and practicing with the NBA’s best team will yield successful results. Just ask Justin Holiday and James Michael-McAdoo, both who grew as players during their past season with the Warriors.

The Warriors can not ask for much in return for David Lee, as his contract does not match his production well, but receiving either Calderon or Ledo and a draft pick from the Knicks would be a very positive outcome of a trade with the New York team.