As the season continues, and the New York Knicks lose more games, they have presented a youth-focused rotation. This put most of their veterans on the outside looking in, including Enes Kanter’s diminished role which created a public outcry.
Courtney Lee became one of the veterans to take a backseat. His salary for 2019-20 made him a trade candidate, as the Knicks prepare for July’s free agency. However, a two-month neck injury set the 33-year-old back, and young players stepped up to assume prominent roles.
Head coach David Fizdale kept Lee on the bench for most of the past few weeks, but it did not demoralize the long-time shooting guard, accepting his role on this rebuilding bunch, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:
“Being in this league for a while you understand that’s the best direction to go in, especially having a young core.