Courtney Lee meets with Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers; Interested in joining the team – NBA News
Free agent guard Courtney Lee met with the Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers over the weekend and has confirmed that the Celtics are one of the teams, looking to hire his services for next season.
“I wouldn't know how to characterize (Boston's position in his free agency). I have a great relationship with Doc, from the first time I stepped on an NBA court,” said Lee.
The Boston Celtics have intensified their efforts to land Lee after their shooting guard Ray Allen decided to sign with the Miami Heat. However, the maximum the Celtics can offer him is $4.1 million over two years, which is a pay
decrease for Lee, who earned $2.3 million last season with the Houston Rockets.
The other option for the Celtics is to somehow manage a sign and trade deal with the Rockets.
“The Celtics) expressed their interest, I expressed my interest -- it's up to the front offices and my agent. They need to communicate and go from there,” added Lee.
Lee might be attracted by the fact that the Celtics are a genuine title contender for next season with Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo at the core and Kevin Garnett returning for the next season. They have also added Jason Terry into
their line up in this free agency.
With Allen gone, the Celtics didn’t lose much because they signed Terry who is more than good option off the bench. However a second shoulder surgery for shooting guard Avery Bradley means that the Celtics will require a genuine
guard for at least the first two months next season and that has them inclined towards Lee.
Lee had a good 2011-2012 season with the Houston Rockets, averaging 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals while averaging 30.3 minutes per game. He has a 43.3% field goal average and a 40.1% shooting average from
the distance.
The two guard has received interest from a number of teams this free agency, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. The Chicago Bulls have also been interested in Lee for some
time now, but their contractual obligations to star Derrick Rose and forwards Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng does not give them much salary cap space. They could, however, also land Lee in a sign and trade with the Houston Rockets.
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