David Lee's Reserve Role Could Put Golden State Warriors over the Top
David Lee's impending return could be complicated, and maybe even a little messy, if the Golden State Warriors don't play things right.
But if this goes smoothly, we could see a Warriors team that has played as well as anyone to this point reach a whole new level.
Problem No. 1: It's hard to know what to call that level, as the Warriors genuinely believe they're contenders right now—with Lee still sidelined by a sore hamstring that'll keep him out at least through their game against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 21.
"For sure," Stephen Curry said of the Dubs' belief in their status as contenders, per Carl Steward of Bay Area News Group. "We've been on the steady rise for the last couple of years and we have the same corps back that's playing well. With the experiences we've had the last couple of years, we feel like we can get over that hump and come out of the West."
The only designation above "contender" is "favorite," which feels a little strong. But when you think about what a healthy Lee could bring to an already loaded team, maybe it's not crazy.
Special Deliver-Lee
The Warriors are off to the franchise's best start in 39 years, and they've been trouncing opponents by an average of 11.5 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com. As problems go, Golden State doesn't have many.
But Lee could address what few weaknesses we've seen to this point...if he's willing to come off the bench.
The Warriors' second unit needs an offensive hub who can create and finish plays. As of now, the Warriors have personnel capable of doing one or the other: Leandro Barbosa and Marreese Speights have been effective gunners, while Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston have facilitated nicely but have hardly glanced at the rim on offense.
The result has been a reserve attack that turns the ball over too often, gets into ruts and has surrendered leads amassed by the starters.
Lee is a brilliant passer who also happens to be the Warriors' best low-post threat. He's dynamite in the pick-and-roll—both as a scorer and as a pick-you-apart distributor who makes decisions at point guard speed when the defense collapses on him.
You could build a darn good offense around him in the starting lineup. Throw him out there against other teams' backups, and you've got yourself a distinctly unfair advantage.
In addition to shoring up the offense, Lee could also take control of the boards. A rebound-gobbler from the moment he reached the NBA in 2006, Lee and his career average of 9.8 career rebounds per game will definitely help the team clear the defensive glass at better than the 74.2 percent rate it has posted so far. That figure ranks right in the middle of the pack in the NBA, and it needs to improve.
Head coach Steve Kerr summed up what Lee's return would bring to the team, per Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle:
"We miss his scoring. We miss him being a low-post threat. We're different without him. Fortunately, we've been able to win, and Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes have each given us a different look at the 4...but it will be great to have David back with the rebounding, low-post scoring and passing.
"
So, Lee brings...everything the second unit needs?
Pretty much, yeah.
And all that everything will add up to address Golden State's biggest weakness—the one thing holding back its otherwise limitless potential.
Turnovers.
The Dubs have given up the rock on a league-worst 19.4 percent of their possessions, which explains how a team that is the best in the league at two important things—shooting accurately and preventing the guys in different-colored jerseys from doing the same—isn't boat-racing the rest of the NBA right now.
See, Curry has been notably turnover prone, and he's caught some heat for it. But the ugly truth is that the Dubs are even sloppier with the ball when Curry isn't on the floor. That's where Lee comes in—an organizing, stabilizing rock who can bring order to a disorderly second unit.
That's a rosy scenario, though—one that ignores the potential complications that could arise.
Touchy Subject?
The first potential speed bump is Lee accepting a reserve role.
Remember, this is a guy who has made a pair of All-Star teams and possesses averages of 18.2 points and 10 rebounds on 51.4 percent shooting in five seasons with the Warriors.
Yes, he's a bad defender. We all know this. But he was also part of a positively elite starting unit that posted a ridiculous plus-15.4 net rating over 819 minutes last season, per NBA.com. If Lee wanted to put up a fight about coming off the bench on "why mess with success?" grounds, he's got a hell of a stat to support his case.
Fortunately for the Warriors, Andre Iguodala, who was part of that very same starting unit last year, has already accepted a bench role. In theory, Lee would look worse if he were to balk at backup duties now that another former All-Star has accepted them.
Golden State has a great thing going with Green in the first unit. He stretches the floor in ways Lee can't, and his defensive versatility, passing eye and raw energy have been major keys to the Dubs' hot start. For all of his talents, Green is best playing off others, which means he can't lead a reserve unit.
Lee can. Hopefully, he and the Warriors appreciate that difference.
There's a business side to this issue as well, as Lee's hefty contract (he'll make $15 million this year and next) is one the front office would be wise to move if it can. Green will hit restricted free agency this summer, and as a total-package player, he'll be far more valuable than the 31-year-old Lee going forward.
The Dubs need to set aside enough cash to keep Green, and moving Lee for expiring contracts could serve that purpose. The problem: Bringing Lee off the bench might diminish his value to suitors. This will be a delicate dance.
Fortunately, Lee has always been a team guy. He played with a torn hip flexor in the 2013 playoffs in an effort to inspire his cohorts, and he's never been much of a locker room complainer. Perhaps its naive to think so, but Lee seems like the type of smart, practical thinker who'll see the clarity of the situation before him: He makes his team better by taking on a very specific (albeit diminished) role.
Good Problems
Consider this: Golden State is 8-2 and has the second-best net rating in the league. Its one demonstrable weakness—turnovers—is almost entirely self-inflicted and is therefore correctable.
This team, with those impressive stats and easily fixable flaws, now has to figure out what to do when an All-Star power forward gets healthy enough to warrant a backup role.
It's a little like this: The Warriors have constructed a mansion with a 12-car garage, and they now realize there's a chance they'll have to knock out a wall between the wine cellar and the bowling alley to fit that 13th Lamborghini Veneno roadster (which they might only drive once every couple of weeks but would still like to keep out of the rain if possible).
You know what, it's exactly like that.
Golden State is already fantastically rich in talent and potential, and Lee's return could make it even richer.
It turns out the Warriors lead the league in something else: good problems.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
