Warriors' Lee expected back next week

David Lee's ongoing left hamstring issues haven't carried a ton of urgency for the Golden State Warriors this season, what with the team posting the best record in the NBA while trotting out the league's stingiest defense. 

But with Thursday's announcement that starting center Andrew Bogut is out indefinitely after receiving platelet-rich plasma therapy on his injured right knee, capable big men are in higher demand for the Warriors than they once were.

The good news (though, fair warning, this is good news we've heard a couple times this season already) is that Lee, who's been limited to just seven minutes played this season, is expected back soon. Head coach Steve Kerr said Thursday that Lee should be back next week if everything goes well in practice, according to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle.  

Not that "everything going well in practice" is anything close to a foregone conclusion. Lee was on schedule to return at the end of November before re-aggravating the hamstring in practice, which has set him back to where he is now. 

For the time being, the Warriors can count themselves lucky to have forwards Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Marreese Speights all playing by far the best basketball of their careers in Lee's stead.