New York Knicks: Top 3 trade candidates before 2018 deadline
Courtney Lee, SG
Earlier this offseason, the Knicks were rumored to be shopping Courtney Lee (via the New York Post‘s Marc Berman). Although it was meant as a way to open up cap space to make room for a free agent or two, it appeared New York was ready to move on from the overpaid veteran.
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The only hurdle with dealing Lee is the average of $12 million he’s due over the next three seasons. His contract can be rather restrictive, but he at least offers some value as a starting-caliber shooting guard.
Still, if the Knicks are going to make a trade, Lee’s name will likely come up in conversations. On a rebuilding roster, the solid shooting guard doesn’t offer much upside. Nor does he offer the team much financial flexibility, especially with some of the other excessive deals currently on the books (cough, Tim Hardaway Jr., cough).
With that being said, Lee can be a difference-maker for a contender. If a team is willing to take on his cap figure for the next three years, they’d be getting a capable starter who can also provide a spark off the bench.
I know Lee isn’t the most exciting trade target. At the same time, the Knicks can’t be too excited about having to pay him so much over the next three years. If an opportunity arises to pawn him off on another team, I doubt Mills would hesitate to pull the trigger.