5. Courtney Lee
New York Knicks shooting guard Courtney Lee will have a chance to achieve a measure of vengeance against the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite establishing himself as one of the best players on the roster, Lee was traded by Memphis at the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline.
Following a disappointing showing against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lee is in dire need of a strong performance in the home opener.
Against Cleveland, Lee amassed a total of zero points on 0-of-5 shooting from the field and 0-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc. That scoreless performance was nothing short of unacceptable for a starter on an NBA team.
Lee wasn’t signed by the Knicks in order to anchor the offensive attack, but he was acquired to help create continuity on both ends of the floor.
Throughout his Grizzlies tenure, Lee provided value as the player who created offense at the end of the shot clock. That may not seem like the most rewarding role—truthfully, it isn’t—but it’s something that stars can’t always be tasked with doing.
Against the Grizzlies, Lee must achieve redemption by spacing the floor, defending at a high level, and providing the Knicks with a stabilizing force offensively.