NBA Free Agency: Sacramento Kings Lose Ben McLemore

The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed with Ben McLemore to a two-year deal with McLemore earning about 11 million dollars over that span.

The Sacramento Kings drafted Ben McLemore with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft to be their second star moving forward. Things didn’t pan out as expected.

The Kings hoped for a productive shooting guard with McLemore, but it ultimately didn’t work out. With the acquisitions of Buddy Hield, Malachi Richardson, Garrett Temple, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, there wasn’t a place left for McLemore on the Kings. The Kings declined to retain McLemore’s restricted free agency rights and therefore letting him walk.

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The Memphis Grizzlies signed McLemore as a shooter who can hopefully create his own shot. McLemore has never sustained a major injury and he has all the athletic tools to be great. The Grizzlies are hoping under the tutelage of David Fitzdale and their developmental staff they can turn McLemore into the player he was projected to be coming out of Kansas.

McLemore is still 24 years old with a very strong work ethic. He had flashes of being a real contributor to the Kings towards the end of his 2016-2017 season. He logged in multiple games scoring over 15 points (Game Log).

Although things didn’t work out in Sacramento, it doesn’t mean McLemore’s career is over. He’s a risky player to sign, but the upside could prove to be worth it. He has a great form on his jumpers, can jump out of the arena, and can get hot in a hurry. Players like Tim Hardaway Jr. have found great success when moved to another team, and the Grizzlies are hoping McLemore could be the same.

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Whatever happens to Ben, we here at A Royal Pain enjoyed his tenure and hope nothing but the best for him.