SATURDAY, 10:17am: The Mavs are expected to sign Lee via the room exception once he clears waivers, Charania tweets.
4:20pm: The two sides agreed to a buyout and Lee is expected to sign with a new team once he clears waivers, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe tweets.
FRIDAY, 4:18pm: The Celtics have officially waived power forward David Lee, the team announced. The veteran was reportedly set to work out a buyout arrangement with the team, which is presumably the case, though no mention of an agreement was made, nor how much salary Lee gave up to facilitate his release. The Mavericks are the frontrunners to sign Lee once he clears waivers, Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports tweets. Lee clearing waivers is a virtual certainty since no team currently has the free cap space to absorb his $15.5MM salary. Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com reported buyout talks between the two parties.
Boston attempted to find a taker for Lee prior to Thursday’s trade deadline, but the power forward reportedly had “no value” around the league, even though his expiring deal presented an opportunity for cap relief this summer to any team acquiring him. “Everything doesn’t always work out the way you want it to,” Lee said. “I’m just disappointed from the fact that I wanted to come here and make a major impact. And that didn’t happen for one reason or another. The last two places I had been before I may have been able to make that impact. It is what it is.”
Lee had also relayed that he had no animosity toward the Celtics over his lack of playing time. “I’ve kind of seen the writing on the wall with what’s going on the last month,” Lee continued. “But once again, this is a business. We all know that. I want to be in a place where I’m successful and where I’m wanted. The Celtics are a great group of people here. I have absolutely zero negative things to say about my coaching staff and teammates, who, obviously as you know, I get along well with. So we’ll just see how things develop over the next 24 or 48 hours here, but it’s looking like something’s most likely going to happen [with the buyout].”
Lee, who has not played since January 10th, has appeared in 30 games for Boston this season and is averaging 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 15.7 minutes of action per contest.
Lee makes perfect season for Mavs. He still has a lot left to prove in the league and he’s still relatively young. He can be a starter on those days Dirk needs time off and he can still get the job done in spurts. He’s so underrated and by far one of my favorite players in the NBA when he was producing 2-3 years ago. Hope he lands some place they treat him well.
He got stuck on two teams with a lot of young talent, and with his age and contract he didn’t seem like part of the future in Boston or Golden State. He’s shown flashes that he can still play, though.
The celtics were stupid to take him out of the rotation, he would have been a good role player behind Amir johnson and sully. Should have waived zeller
He didn’t want to play behind anyone. He wasn’t happy playing < twenty minutes a night. The Celtics and Lee did the best thing possible for Lee. Zeller is younger, cheaper, works well in the system and is happy with any minutes he gets at all.
I like Lee and wish he could've stayed and the he worked out, but he just doesn't and didn't fit with what Ainge and, even more so, Stevens are trying to do. I wish we had traded for Lee years ago. Now though, it just didn't work out. He wasn't happy with limited playing time.
Zeller’s a much stronger defender on a team that values defense very highly that’s why I think they made the right choice.
um Zeller is 25, cheap and a restricted FA and is way better than Lee and fits the Celts system because he can run.
Lee is 15 million, does not fit the system and can walk at the end of the year.
Zeller will be resigned. Lee would of walked. Celtics made the best decision possible with Mickey in the wings killing it in the D league.
If he wants to play why dont sign with the raptors! He can be the starter and would be playing for a winner
Lee did not play defense up to Brad Stevens standards. He may help the Mavs, Dirk is getting long in the tooth for B Ball, Celtics have mega draft picks coming. Celtics vs. Golden State for the 2018 title.