David Lee trade back to Knicks possible

Newly crowned NBA champion David Lee is not likely to return to help the Golden State Warriors defend their crown in 2015-16, according to ESPN.

Could this open the door for his return to the Knicks? It’s certainly possible as Knicks boss Phil Jackson has plenty of room to maneuver this summer and the Warriors have, according to ESPN sources, agreed with Lee’s agent to “come up with a good solution” when it comes to a new home for the power forward.

Lee was a good soldier for the Warriors despite seeing his minutes cut in half this past season due to the emergence of Draymond Green.

“I’ve actually gotten to see kind of the other side of the NBA,” Lee told ESPN Radio. “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.”

Lee averaged a double-double in points and rebounds in his final two years with the Knicks (2008-10), and averaged a career high 20.2 points per game in his last season at Madison Square Garden.

He averaged 18.2 points per game in a more prominent role with Golden State in the 2013-14 season.

Lee has one year remaining on his current contract and is scheduled to earn $15.4 million.