Knicks: Pending Free Agents to Monitor Until Season’s End

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Feb 24, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward David Lee (42) is welcomed back to the bench late in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

9. David Lee, Dallas Mavericks

Position: Power Forward

Age: 32

Slash Line: .521/.000/.792

Season Averages: 16.9 MPG, 8.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.8 ORPG, 1.6 APG

The Dallas Mavericks have made a successful gamble on 32-year-old power forward David Lee. He’s been resurgent under head coach Rick Carlisle, and thus, should be acknowledged as a low-cost option for Phil Jackson in 2016.

According to Marcus Thompson II of The Bay Area News Group, Lee has singled out the flaw that prevented him from getting back to his All-Star ways.

"“I came in, I wasn’t in shape, I didn’t play my best and lost my job,” Lee said of his time in Boston. “All that did was make me ask ‘What do I not have that I had before? I wasn’t in as good a shape.”"

Lee has since tirelessly worked to get himself back into the shape that he was in when he starred for the Golden State Warriors and, of course, the New York Knicks.

In 14 appearances with the Dallas Mavericks, Lee is averaging 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.9 offensive boards in 19.4 minutes. That’s a small sample size, but it’s an example of how he can impact a game in the limited playing time he receives.

Overall, Lee is averaging 17.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.9 offensive boards, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks per 36 minutes in 44 appearances in 2015-16. He may never rediscover his All-Star form, but Lee has the tools to be a strong contributor.

If New York is looking for a player to provide an offensive spark off the bench in 2016-17, Lee should be a prime candidate.

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