Celtics Rumors: Boston Should Avoid Inconsistent Courtney Lee
The Boston Celtics may be licking their wounds over the loss of Ray Allen to their arch-rival Miami Heat, but that doesn’t mean they should overreact and add unnecessary payroll while surrendering draft picks in the process.
According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, free agent guard Courtney Lee has spoken with coach Doc Rivers about heading to Beantown.
Rivers and Lee both have mutual interest, according to the report.
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The problem is, the Celtics couldn’t afford Lee under the new salary cap rules, which means they’d have to conduct a sign-and-trade with Lee’s team last year: the Houston Rockets.
Considering how much Rockets general manager Daryl Morey loves acquiring draft picks, that would likely be the asking price as they continue to push for Dwight Howard. With Lee telling The Globe that eight teams are interested in his services, a bidding war may be on the horizon.
Lee isn’t worth draft picks.
Lee is coming off a disappointing season in which he averaged 11.4 points and only 1.5 assists while shooting a career-low 43.3 percent from the field.
He is a volume shooter that doesn’t create opportunities for others, and lacks the hunger to become a decent defender. Lee is still living off his outstanding performance in the 2009 playoffs as a member of the Orlando Magic, and has shown little improvement since then.
Statistically, his best regular season was two years ago as a member of the New Jersey Nets. He has regressed ever since.
After four years in the league, it has become clear that Lee is nothing more than a jump shooter.
While his 38.6 career mark from three-point territory is a plus, he isn’t needed on this particular Celtics team.
Jason Terry is essentially a better version of Lee (and a superior shooter), Avery Bradley is poised for his breakout season next year and Keyon Dooling (if they bring him back) is a terrific backup that works well for the team while Rajon Rondo is getting a breather.
Lee is a below-average player who will cost far too much. Boston needs to pass on Lee and trust the team they already have.
