5. Courtney Lee, SG
Phil Jackson had some blunders as New York Knicks team president, but the Courtney Lee deal wasn’t one of them. Lee was signed to a four-year deal prior to last season, and was a very consistent player.
The 32-year-old averaged 10.8 points per game while shooting 40.1 percent from three-point range. He’s the Knicks’ best 3-and-D player.
With the signing of Tim Hardaway Jr., it’s not clear what Lee’s role will be on this Knicks team. New York have too much invested in Hardaway for him not to start.
Could Lee start at the 3? This would make the Knicks’ lineup small, but would give them a chance to really space the floor on offense. In Jeff Hornaceck’s system, the lineup could work.
However, it remains more likely Lee will come off the bench this upcoming season. A second unit centered around Lee and either Hernagomez or Enes Kanter could be very solid.
Lee will also be leaned on for leadership. At 32 years old, he’s one of the few veterans on this team.