Golden State Warriors: 4 Predictions for David Lee

Mar 25, 2012; Portland, OR, USAGolden State Warriors power forward David Lee (10) drives past Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (left) at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-US PRESSWIRE

Is he worth his monster contract? A lot say yes, but I’m not so sure that his defensive “miscommunications” can go unnoticed for a longer time.

Don’t get me wrong, I think David Lee is one of the best players on the Warriors’ roster, and is no doubt deserving of starter minutes. The things is that the Warriors need to stop some power forwards like LaMarcus Aldridge, and to say the least, Lee doesn’t have that capability.

With that being said, what’s in store for Lee this season? Will he have a great season, or will the Warriors be looking to trade him?

I think that it’s going to be both, but here are some predictions that I think are going to be true when it’s all said and done.

1. Lee Doesn’t Make the All-Star Team:

This isn’t a very hard one to predict. With all the up-and-coming talent in the Western Conference, few teams will have more than one All-Star. Lee is not that guy. For the Warriors, that guy would obviously have to be Stephen Curry, the leader of the franchise, and one of the game’s top point guards as of now. Lee is a leader, yes, but he’s not the guy that the Warriors should have at All-Star weekend.

He will be a role player, and perhaps be the second in scoring and once again, first in rebounding. Unfortunately for him, however, he will have to settle with a role that doesn’t involve him flying out to wherever All-Star weekend is. We all love Lee, but Curry is undoubtedly the face of the Warriors franchise, and deserves to be leading them.

2. Lee Still Averages a Double-Double:

Again, this isn’t a very hard one to predict. Lee is a monster on the glass, and it’s one of his strong points. Defensively, he’s not very solid, but when it comes to rebounding, he will outrebound guys that have a couple of inches on him. That’s the work ethic that allows him to produce efficiently for the Warriors, when he shoots the ball at over 50% from the field. The Warriors are in good shape with Lee as the forward in terms of rebounding.

Scoring wise, he needs almost no improvement. His quickness allows him to take the ball to the basket, and he’s a tough guy so he can take a hit. He can shoot jump-shots, and he can he shoot free throws. When he’s having a poor night offensively, he’ll still score at least 10 points because he has that kind of work ethic. If there’s a fast-break opportunity, you better believe he’s sprinting down the court to receive the ball.

3. Lee Goes on the Trading Block:

It’s already been discussed. Lee will probably be going to be on the trading block as the Warriors approach the trade deadline. Unless the Warriors have an amazing record, and are in the top three teams in the Western Conference, which is unlikely, the Warriors should be looking to move Lee just to bolster their bench depth. It would have to involve a couple of other players because of Lee’s huge contract, but if Bob Myers makes the right move, which he usually does, the Warriors will be in a good position to trade him.

At this point in the season, however, Lee may be solidly in-sync with the Warriors, and disturbing the chemistry could be detrimental to the Warriors’ future success, so this prediction right here could be put on the side of a more bold one.

4. He Gets Pulled in Closing Minutes:

There are pros and cons everywhere. Lee is a great player with a tough mentality, and a solid work ethic. Do the Warriors need him on the floor in the final minutes? Can he get that clutch basket that everyone is looking for?

Picturing him with the ball in his hands for the game winning shot is hard to do, so I say that the Warriors should pull him and play Harrison Barnes to close the game.

Lee is a key piece to the Warriors offense, and this one really depends on the team that they’re playing. For example, against the better teams, Lee should stay in the game because of his rebounding and experience. With not-s0-good teams, Barnes should be out there getting the exposure that he needs.

Personally, I would rather see the ball in Barnes’ hands as the clock winds down on the final possession in a ball game.