David Lee kept his promise, signed contract with Dallas Mavericks
Unlike another prominent free agent, David Lee kept his promise and signed a prorated cap room exception salary on Monday morning with the Dallas Mavericks for the rest of the season for $2.1 million.
Because the Mavericks already had the NBA-maximum number of 15 players on their roster before acquiring Lee, they had to waive a player in order to make room for the 6-foot-9, 245-pound 11-year veteran. That player was guard John Jenkins, who had a hunch before the official announcement that he was going to be the odd-man out.
He does everything. He knows the game, he’s a veteran, and he can play the game. Hopefully he can add to this team
Mavericks guard Wesley Matthews on David Lee
Lee is expected to play some behind power forward Dirk Nowitzki. But he also will be used — depending on matchups — as a backup center.
“He does everything,” guard Wesley Matthews said. “He knows the game, he’s a veteran, and he can play the game. Hopefully he can add to this team.”
After they failed to reach a buyout agreement with Lee on his $15 million expiring contract, the Boston Celtics decided to waive him last Friday after he averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 30 games this season. The Celtics’ desire was to lean heavily toward a youth movement, so Lee, who turns 33 on April 29, was waived.
And although Lee cleared waivers Sunday afternoon and insisted he was going to sign with the Mavericks, owner Mark Cuban refused to discuss Lee’s arrival until it was official.
“I’m not going to talk about contingencies or hypotheticals,” Cuban said Sunday while Lee was still a free agent. “I did that this summer and look how it turned out. Until something is signed, it’s not signed. We learned that this summer.”
Last summer Los Angeles Clippers free-agent center DeAndre Jordan committed to sign a contract with the Mavericks. Cuban was quoted in several publications discussing the major impact and how that prime-time acquisition would positively affect his franchise.
A few days and much fanfare later, Jordan changed his mind and decided to re-sign with the Clippers. With that reminder, Cuban was tight-lipped about Lee before Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He knows how to play. He is versatile, can score, pass and rebound. He is really going to help us.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on David Lee
Lee helped the Golden State Warriors win last season’s NBA title before they traded him to the Celtics in a cost-cutting move on July 27 for Gerald Wallace and Chris Babb.
“He knows how to play,” Cuban said on Monday. “He is versatile, can score, pass and rebound. He is really going to help us.”
For his career, Lee averages 14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He also made the Western Conference All-Star team in 2010 and 2013.
“He’s a smart player,” Nowitzki said. “Obviously he’s a veteran who knows how to play.
“He can score around the basket, he’s a good passer out of the post, he drives, he rebounds, which sometimes we have issues with our rebounding, so he should help us there. I just think it’s another solid veteran that wants to win and knows how to play.”
Lee played for Florida from 2001-05, the same college that forward Chandler Parsons played for from 2007-11.
Parsons said “it can’t hurt” to have another Gator on the roster.
“D-Lee’s a proven player, a good veteran who’s going to come in and do whatever we need him to do,” Parsons said. “He’s a two-time All-Star, so he’s had a great career.”
Dwain Price: 817-390-7760, @dwainprice
This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 6:48 PM with the headline "David Lee kept his promise, signed contract with Dallas Mavericks."