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[h1]Buyer's Guide: David Lee[/h1][h3]For a team on a budget, Lee could be a better option than big men with bigger names[/h3]
By Tom Haberstroh
Special to ESPN Insider
Archive
Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty ImagesLee's consistent motor could elevate him over pricier bigs in the eyes of some GMs.
ESPN Insider is analyzing NBA free agents not named LeBron James (we covered him pretty extensively a few weeks ago, and there's even more coming every day on the LeBron Tracker) to determine what they're really worth to the teams chasing them this summer. To follow the entire series, click here. We continue Tuesday with David Lee.
[h3]OVERALL ASSESSMENT[/h3]
Even though it comes a year later than he intended, David Lee finally will get his big payday this summer. The 27-year-old failed to land a multiyear contract as a restricted free agent last offseason, but after a season in which he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, that might have been a blessing in disguise.
With Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire, Lee completes the free-agent triumvirate of scoring power forwards who can't play defense. However, Lee distinguishes himself from Boozer and Stoudemire with his will to improve his game and all-out effort that enamored the New York Knicks' fans.
Behind Lee's hustle, though, there's also a player who has made himself into an impressively skilled scorer and one of the most efficient big men in the league.
In his first three seasons in New York, Lee developed a reputation as a cleanup artist on the block without a complementary midrange game. That all changed this past season, when he shot nearly 400 jumpers between 16 and 23 feet -- more than his first three seasons combined -- and ranked among the league leaders with a 43.4 percent conversion rate, according to Hoopdata.com.
Lee unlocked his scoring potential just in time for free agency, which should allow teams with elite point guards to target him as a versatile screen counterpart and not just a glorified rebounder. According to Synergy Sports Technology, Lee is already one of the best pick-and-roll big men in the business, averaging 1.31 points after receiving the ball on a pick-and-roll, better than any of his counterparts in free agency. (That efficiency rate helps refute arguments that his stats are inflated by Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni's system.)
But even with his new scoring arsenal, Lee hasn't lost his touch on the boards. The former slam dunk contest winner at the McDonald's All-American game uses his underrated athleticism to position himself well for rebounding opportunities. At that point, it's all about effort -- something Lee rarely lacks. Only Dwight Howard collected more defensive rebounds than Lee this past season, and the Florida alumnus consistently finds himself among the league leaders in rebounding rate (the percentage of missed shots a player rebounds while on the floor).
Up to this point, Lee sounds as though he's worth a max contract. However, as is the case with Boozer and Stoudemire, Lee's defensive liabilities eclipse much of his offensive firepower.
Teams make it a nightly priority to abuse Lee on the block. In fact, according to Synergy, he faced more post-up situations per game than any other player in the NBA this past season -- and with good reason. More often than not, on 51.1 percent of post-ups, in fact, Lee either fails to stop his man on the block or sends him to the line, ranking him as one of the worst defending big men in the league among those who play big minutes.
Lee does have one advantage on D over the guys he'll be competing against for free agency dollars. "I think Lee has a better motor than [Stoudemire and Boozer]," one league exec said. "So he probably overcomes more of his deficiencies with his energy, athleticism and hustle."
But as much as Lee's work ethic has fueled the development of his midrange jumper, it has yet to transform his defensive game. As much as teams like effort, they pay for results. And for that reason, it's hard to see a team offering Lee near max money despite his great offensive efficiency.
One league exec put it this way: "I really don't feel confident that if you sign David Lee, your fans are going to say, 'Oh wow -- this two-year period of absolute futility was worth it.'"
But after considering the splash premium that Stoudemire likely will receive, Lee could be a real bargain this summer. By many measures, including John Hollinger's player efficiency rating, Lee even ranks as the better player of the two. And that's before one considers Lee's spotless injury record.
[h3]FINDING THE RIGHT FIT[/h3]
Whereas Boozer and Stoudemire have played on the playoff stage year after year, Lee has never had that opportunity nor the personnel to propel him there. But that inexperience actually could be a draw for some teams.
"Lee didn't play with anyone who made him better, so that's intriguing," one league source said. "He's one of those guys who may have some latent upside just because you've never seen him play with a really good player."
By Tom Haberstroh
Special to ESPN Insider
Archive
ESPN Insider is analyzing NBA free agents not named LeBron James (we covered him pretty extensively a few weeks ago, and there's even more coming every day on the LeBron Tracker) to determine what they're really worth to the teams chasing them this summer. To follow the entire series, click here. We continue Tuesday with David Lee.
[h3]OVERALL ASSESSMENT[/h3]
Even though it comes a year later than he intended, David Lee finally will get his big payday this summer. The 27-year-old failed to land a multiyear contract as a restricted free agent last offseason, but after a season in which he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, that might have been a blessing in disguise.
With Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire, Lee completes the free-agent triumvirate of scoring power forwards who can't play defense. However, Lee distinguishes himself from Boozer and Stoudemire with his will to improve his game and all-out effort that enamored the New York Knicks' fans.
Behind Lee's hustle, though, there's also a player who has made himself into an impressively skilled scorer and one of the most efficient big men in the league.
In his first three seasons in New York, Lee developed a reputation as a cleanup artist on the block without a complementary midrange game. That all changed this past season, when he shot nearly 400 jumpers between 16 and 23 feet -- more than his first three seasons combined -- and ranked among the league leaders with a 43.4 percent conversion rate, according to Hoopdata.com.
Lee unlocked his scoring potential just in time for free agency, which should allow teams with elite point guards to target him as a versatile screen counterpart and not just a glorified rebounder. According to Synergy Sports Technology, Lee is already one of the best pick-and-roll big men in the business, averaging 1.31 points after receiving the ball on a pick-and-roll, better than any of his counterparts in free agency. (That efficiency rate helps refute arguments that his stats are inflated by Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni's system.)
But even with his new scoring arsenal, Lee hasn't lost his touch on the boards. The former slam dunk contest winner at the McDonald's All-American game uses his underrated athleticism to position himself well for rebounding opportunities. At that point, it's all about effort -- something Lee rarely lacks. Only Dwight Howard collected more defensive rebounds than Lee this past season, and the Florida alumnus consistently finds himself among the league leaders in rebounding rate (the percentage of missed shots a player rebounds while on the floor).
Up to this point, Lee sounds as though he's worth a max contract. However, as is the case with Boozer and Stoudemire, Lee's defensive liabilities eclipse much of his offensive firepower.
Teams make it a nightly priority to abuse Lee on the block. In fact, according to Synergy, he faced more post-up situations per game than any other player in the NBA this past season -- and with good reason. More often than not, on 51.1 percent of post-ups, in fact, Lee either fails to stop his man on the block or sends him to the line, ranking him as one of the worst defending big men in the league among those who play big minutes.
Lee does have one advantage on D over the guys he'll be competing against for free agency dollars. "I think Lee has a better motor than [Stoudemire and Boozer]," one league exec said. "So he probably overcomes more of his deficiencies with his energy, athleticism and hustle."
But as much as Lee's work ethic has fueled the development of his midrange jumper, it has yet to transform his defensive game. As much as teams like effort, they pay for results. And for that reason, it's hard to see a team offering Lee near max money despite his great offensive efficiency.
One league exec put it this way: "I really don't feel confident that if you sign David Lee, your fans are going to say, 'Oh wow -- this two-year period of absolute futility was worth it.'"
But after considering the splash premium that Stoudemire likely will receive, Lee could be a real bargain this summer. By many measures, including John Hollinger's player efficiency rating, Lee even ranks as the better player of the two. And that's before one considers Lee's spotless injury record.
[h3]FINDING THE RIGHT FIT[/h3]
Whereas Boozer and Stoudemire have played on the playoff stage year after year, Lee has never had that opportunity nor the personnel to propel him there. But that inexperience actually could be a draw for some teams.
"Lee didn't play with anyone who made him better, so that's intriguing," one league source said. "He's one of those guys who may have some latent upside just because you've never seen him play with a really good player."
