NBA Golden State Rumors: Former All-Star David Lee May Have Played His Last Game as a Warrior

By Cheri Cheng - 18 Jun '15 17:11PM
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David Lee most likely played his last game as a Golden State Warrior.

League sources reportedly told ESPN.com's Marc Stein that the 2015 NBA Champions are already trying to find a team for the 32-year-old two-time All-Star.

Stein wrote:

"Sources said the Warriors have privately acknowledged to Lee and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, that it would be unfair to the former All-Star to ask him to continue to serve in a limited role next season after Lee accepted his diminished minutes without complaint all season."

The sources added that both parties decided to talk about Lee's future after the playoffs. They have agreed to work together in order to "come up with a good solution."

Lee, who has been with the Warriors since the 2010-11 season, lost his starting spot to Draymond Green due to a hamstring injury. Without Lee, the Warriors dominated the league and finished the season with 67 wins. With Green becoming a major part of the starting five, Lee was forced to sit and watch from the bench.

Despite being given a smaller role, Lee remained prepared and delivered when the Warriors needed him. Lee played in 49 games, four of which were starts, and averaged 7.9 points per game, his lowest since his debut in 2005 with the New York Knicks.

"It's been a really interesting year," Lee said after Game 1 of the finals. "I've actually gotten to see kind of the other side of the NBA. I've always been the guy that's out there for 35 to 40 minutes. I've never really, I don't think, had the true respect for guys ... to see guys that don't get a chance to play very often and come out and produce on a consistent basis -- I never knew how difficult that was. So it's really been a great learning experience for me this year. And while it's been frustrating as a competitor to not be in there as much as I want to be in there, it's been kind of cool to let go of my ego this year and say, 'Hey, this is about the team.'"

The veteran's sacrifice surely paid off in the form of a championship ring.

Lee is in the final year of his six-year, $80 million deal. He is due $15.4 million next season.

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