NBA Trade Rumors: Boston Celtics Put David Lee On The Trading Block

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran David Lee could be on the move once again with the Boston Celtics entertaining the idea of trading the one-time NBA champion. Lee left the Golden State Warriors in a trade this past summer with the 32-year-old losing a considerable amount of playing time to up-and-comer Draymond Green. The veteran wanted to find more minutes elsewhere, but it appears Boston isn’t the answer.

According to David Aldridge of NBA.com, the Celtics have put Lee back on the trading block:

The Celtics have been very solid, but Coach Brad Stevens has a minutes problem, as evidenced by the lack of time for David Lee—whose expiring contract is available, per league sources.

The NBA trade deadline isn’t for another two months with the buzzer sounding on deals in the league on Feb. 19. Boston seems to believe putting Lee’s name out there early is the right way to go with his expiring contract potentially attractive to teams.

Lee is the highest-paid player on the Celtics’ roster this season at $15.4 million followed by Amir Johnson ($12M), Avery Bradley ($7.7M), and Isaiah Thomas ($6.9M). Lee is in the last year of his deal and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Along with Lee, Ty Lawson of the Houston Rockets is another name that has started to get mentioned a lot in trade rumors as of late. Lawson was also traded recently with the Denver Nuggets sending him to Houston.

One or both of these veterans could be dealt at some point between now and the Feb. 19 trade deadline.