David Lee returning Monday, will come off bench for 10-15 minutes

He won't be back in full effect, but David Lee will play for the Golden State Warriors for just the second time this season on Monday.

Lee has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain all season, save for one appearance on Nov. 5 in which he managed just seven minutes of action. He`ll play between 10 and 15 minutes Monday against the Sacramento Kings, coming off the bench as head coach Steve Kerr eases him back into action.

Bringing Lee off the bench is probably going to be a permanent move, given how well the Warriors' starting lineup has played. Kerr said Monday that Lee has responded well to conversations about coming off the bench, as Andre Iguodala did just before the start of the season.

While Lee's only come off the bench 10 times since the end of the 2007-08 season, he has little room to argue here. The team's starting lineup has outplayed any other lineup in the league that's played at least 100 minutes together, rolling opponents by an unfathomable 28 points per-100 possessions. Draymond Green has been a two-way marvel starting in place of Lee, and there's little argument to be made for him returning to the bench.

That's not to say Lee's return won't bring value, especially with Andrew Bogut banged up. Lee will have to adjust to his new role, but his scoring and his ability to make plays for others from the elbows will be welcome with a second unit that has struggled offensively.

In 69 games last season, Lee averaged 18.2 points and 9.3 rebounds in 33.2 minutes, shooting 52.3 percent from the floor.