Rumors are out that the Boston Celtics are planning to buy out the contract of power forward David Lee if the team will not be able to find another team interested in trading for the two-time NBA All-Star before the scheduled Feb. 18 trading deadline.

According to CBS Sports, the 32-year-old big man is currently "unhappy" about his role in the 17-time NBA champions' system, "so the team will either send him somewhere else or buy him out".

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Lee was signed by the Celtics in July of last year in exchange for Gerald Wallace and Chris Babb, which are virtually done "for cap relief". Boston has also signed another power forward, free agent Amir Johnson, last summer even though the team already has a competent and young cast of big men, namely Tyler Zeller, Kelly Olynyk, Jonas Jerebko and Jared Sullinger.

With the Celtics loaded up front, head coach Brad Stevens still chose to make Lee his starter at the four position during the start of the season. However, due to his inability to consistently defend and shoot from range, Lee has fallen out of Stevens' rotation and has only played in three games since last Christmas.

Lee admitted that although he understands what the coach is trying to achieve, he was not happy about the decreased minutes and the increase in DNP-CD's, but he has not requested to be traded yet, as per MassLive.

"Coach came to me and said we're going to try and go small at the 4, which means Kelly (Olynyk) and Jonas (Jerebko)," Lee said. "That's why (Jared Sullinger) has been out of the starting lineup. That was his theory on some changes he wanted to make after us losing a couple of games, so I told him while I disagree with it, I also told him he's the coach and can choose to do that."

Last season with the Golden State Warriors, Lee was also out of the eventual champions' rotation in the regular season. However, he ended up playing a key role en route to Golden State's title run in the postseason.

TagsCeltics Trade Rumors, NBA Trade Rumors, david lee, Boston Celtics, Brad Stevens