David Lee Departs NYCFC for SKC

[ZYanksRule]

Not sure if this was all or partly in response to me but to be clear: I was not suggesting Sims has anything to do with sporting decisions. But he does get asked and whether that topic or his own actual area of responsibility he will always give the official CFG approved response.

Yes I understand what you're saying there. But what's he supposed to say? Of course he's going to publicly back whatever moves the organization makes. What's the alternative? I don't think it's fair to criticize him for publicly backing what the organization is doing. The CEO of the team is not going to butt heads with the owners over financial issues.

 

[ZYanksRule]

Didn't Lee make statements about spending money not needed to win in MLS after taking the SKC job, and now is leaking that he wishes they spent money. Sounds like he is trying straddle both sides of this one.

There is absolutely, at the least, some revisionist history going on here. Listen, David Lee got us there in the end -- we have a very good MLS roster with more additions hopefully coming this offseason. He got us there, but the process was so deeply flawed, slow, and circumspent it cost us two full seasons in a league where there is never a need/desire for a two-year rebuild.

 

[Gotham Gator]

Much of this conversation reminds me that we have only had two Sporting Directors in the Club’s history. Both stayed for several years and then ultimately left for another team in the League.

Maybe that means that it’s a plum job with great resources, but that a person has to leave to fully embrace the role with all it’s responsibilities.

Or maybe I am just projecting.

 

[KevinJRogers]

This is worth keeping an eye on. I for one am curious to see if David Lee is actually capable of signing a slew of players in a short time frame.

Raphael Wicky tackles second MLS act with Sporting KC rebuild | MLSSoccer.com

Amid a sweeping rebuild, Sporting Kansas City enter 2026 as a de facto expansion team in the eyes of many observers around MLS.

www.mlssoccer.com

 

[gbservis]

This is worth keeping an eye on. I for one am curious to see if David Lee is actually capable of signing a slew of players in a short time frame.

Raphael Wicky tackles second MLS act with Sporting KC rebuild | MLSSoccer.com

Amid a sweeping rebuild, Sporting Kansas City enter 2026 as a de facto expansion team in the eyes of many observers around MLS.

www.mlssoccer.com

It will be interesting. They dumped half their roster, and aside from a homegrown and a super draft pick, they have only picked up two players via trade so far. He's looking like the snail-paced David Lee we all know:

Players In

• M - Cielo Tschantret (11/14/25 - homegrown)
• GK - Stefan Cleveland (12/10/25 - trade from Austin FC)
• M - Kwaku Agyabeng (12/18/25 - SuperDraft)
• D - Justin Reynolds (12/30/25 - trade from Chicago Fire FC)

Players Out

• D - Andrew Brody (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• D - Joaquín Fernández (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• D - Tim Leibold (10/23/25 - option declined)
• D - Alán Montes (10/23/25 - loan expired)
• D - Logan Ndenbe (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• M - Nemanja Radoja (10/23/25 - option declined)
• M - Memo Rodríguez (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• F - Khiry Shelton (10/23/25 - option declined)
• M - Erik Thommy (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• F - Mason Toye (10/23/25 - option declined)
• D - Robert Voloder (10/23/25 - out of contract)

 

[KevinJRogers]

It will be interesting. They dumped half their roster, and aside from a homegrown and a super draft pick, they have only picked up two players via trade so far. He's looking like the snail-paced David Lee we all know:

Players In

• M - Cielo Tschantret (11/14/25 - homegrown)
• GK - Stefan Cleveland (12/10/25 - trade from Austin FC)
• M - Kwaku Agyabeng (12/18/25 - SuperDraft)
• D - Justin Reynolds (12/30/25 - trade from Chicago Fire FC)

Players Out

• D - Andrew Brody (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• D - Joaquín Fernández (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• D - Tim Leibold (10/23/25 - option declined)
• D - Alán Montes (10/23/25 - loan expired)
• D - Logan Ndenbe (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• M - Nemanja Radoja (10/23/25 - option declined)
• M - Memo Rodríguez (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• F - Khiry Shelton (10/23/25 - option declined)
• M - Erik Thommy (10/23/25 - out of contract)
• F - Mason Toye (10/23/25 - option declined)
• D - Robert Voloder (10/23/25 - out of contract)

The clock is definitely ticking. And that's a heck of a lot of roster to fill during camp. In a week he'll have had three months to get things rolling.

If he goes into the season opener with significant gaps remaining, is it enough to conclude he suffers from paralysis by analysis and he wasn't getting his strings pulled from Across the Pond? After all, he has free rein at SKC. He's making the calls.

 

[twsj91]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2012317671879061588

First of all that is an insane price if you ask me.

Secondly I wonder if Lee knew this was coming. If they are sold relatively soon new ownership might completely overhaul the FO or restructure of the club.

 

[ezbeezy214]

Similar to what Mark Cuban thought he was doing…until he got railroaded.

 

[Joe_Cos]

Similar to what Mark Cuban thought he was doing…until he got railroaded.

Cuban wasn’t railroaded. You don’t buy a team or company for multibillion and allow the former owner to run it. Mark Cuban was supposed to be front facing as the team was still trying to read the room with Adelerson being the majority of the team. When the Mavs were acquired the was a push to legalize gambling in Texas which failed. Also during the transaction there was talk that the team wanted to build new arena.

So now you have owners who are located in Vegas and run Sands casino looking for a new arena and can’t get gambling legalize in Texas. Sounds very like a Sonic to Oklahoma situation.

 

[ezbeezy214]

Cuban wasn’t railroaded. You don’t buy a team or company for multibillion and allow the former owner to run it. Mark Cuban was supposed to be front facing as the team was still trying to read the room with Adelerson being the majority of the team. When the Mavs were acquired the was a push to legalize gambling in Texas which failed. Also during the transaction there was talk that the team wanted to build new arena.

So now you have owners who are located in Vegas and run Sands casino looking for a new arena and can’t get gambling legalize in Texas. Sounds very like a Sonic to Oklahoma situation.

But like he was supposed to be in on a decision like trading Luka still although not majority owner.