Throughout the season, the Golden State Warriors’ rotation has been understaffed in some way, with the usual cause being injuries. Against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State will be without Damion Lee, yet, he’s not injured.
Lee takes up one of two Warriors’ two-way contract spots, and he’s hit his 45-day NBA service limit that will relegate him to the bench until the team can finalize his full-time contract.
Golden State waived 22-year-old power forward, Marquese Chriss, last week to potentially open up a roster spot for Lee. However, the team has yet to sign him to a deal that will keep him with the Warriors full time.
G Damion Lee and the Warriors are working to finalize a multi-year deal that includes partial guarantees in future seasons, league sources tell ESPN. Lee had been on a two-way contract and Golden State cleared roster spot to keep him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 7, 2020
Two-way contract players are only allowed 45-days of service time with their NBA club, while the rest of their contract sends them to the G League. Lee is still expected to remain with Golden State, but there has been a delay due to salary cap reasons, according to Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Steve Kerr explained the Warriors plan to sign Damion Lee, who reached his 45 day limit as a two-way player, to a contract but they’re waiting a few days for cap reasons.
— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) January 12, 2020
Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported the Warriors would sign Lee to a full-time roster spot on Wednesday.
Damion Lee is out of 2-way days. Won’t play in Memphis today. Warriors will sign him to full roster by Wednesday, but doing some cap maneuvering now. Keeping 13 on roster (current number) drops them a tiny bit further under hard cap each day (helping later this season).
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 12, 2020
Luckily for the Warriors, with Lee out, D’Angelo Russell is expected to make his return after missing the past six games with a shoulder injury. Russell’s return softens the blow of losing Lee, who’s been playing well enough to earn a more significant role with Golden State.
Lee is averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 26 games with Golden State. Lee has started the last 13 games for the Warriors at shooting guard next to either Russell or Ky Bowman. As a starter, Lee is averaging 14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
If the Warriors sign Lee on Wednesday as Slater reported, their starting shooting guard will be back for Golden State’s tilt against the Denver Nuggets.