Expectations were high for a young, talented Ben McLemore when he was drafted out of Kansas with the seventh overall pick in 2013. However, the 6’5″ shooting guard has largely disappointed for the Sacramento Kings. The team has made him available, and is receiving interest, reports NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper:
Some interest around the league in Ben McLemore of the Kings. Teams know he is available and are calling. Not necessarily connected to picks
— Scott Howard-Cooper (@SHowardCooper) June 21, 2016
McLemore being traded wouldn’t come as a shock to anybody. Though he was viewed as a highly-touted prospect out of college due to his shooting and athleticism (he was at one point a near lock of the no. 1 overall pick), McLemore hasn’t been able to find success at the next level. After three seasons in the NBA, his ball-handling, passing, and defensive skills remain subpar. The Kings seem to be ready to move on.
McLemore’s role greatly diminished this season, when the Kings acquired Marco Belinelli, and relegated McLemore to the bench. He saw his minutes decrease from 32.6 in 2014-15 to 21.2 this past season.
Expected to be an elite shooter, McLemore’s shooting from beyond the arc has been okay, but not great. He shot a career-high 36.2% from deep this season, and is now at 34.6% for his career.
Obviously, McLemore is still very young (he’s 23) and could still become a good player. The Kings may not want to take their chances, though.
