Ben McLemore Is Heading Home
The King is back
Ben McLemore is set to return to the Sacramento Kings after a season abroad.
Sacramento not only reclaimed its former seventh overall pick, but added Deyonta Davis, a 2021 second-round pick and cash in exchange for 32-year-old Garrett Temple.
Players Exchanged
Grizzlies Trade (2017-18 Statistics):
SG Ben McLemore | Age: 25 | Measurables: 6’5” – 195lbs | Memphis Grizzlies
56 G | 17 GS | 19.5 MPG | .421 FG% | .346 3P% | 7.5 PPG | 2.5 RPG | 0.9 APG | 0.7 SPG |
C Deyonta Davis | Age: 21 | Measurables: 7’0” – 237 | Memphis Grizzlies
62 G | 6 GS | 15.2 MPG | .608 FG% | 5.8 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 0.6 APG | 0.6 BPG |
Kings Trade (2017-18 Statistics):
SG Garrett Temple | Age: 32 | Measurables: 6’6” – 195 | Sacramento Kings
65 G | 35 GS | 24.8 MPG | .418 FG% | .392 3P% | 8.4 PPG | 2.3 RPG | 1.9 APG | 0.9 SPG |
McLemore’s Opening Act
Not too long ago, the future was looking bright for McLemore, a three-point specialist out of Kansas.
When he was taken in the top 10 of the 2013 NBA Draft, he was given the opportunity to help DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas and Rudy Gay turn around a struggling Kings’ franchise.
McLemore, a rare bright spot for the California-based squad, was named the Western conference rookie of the month in November of 2013 and went on to participate in the 2014 All-Star Break Dunk Contest. He also ended his rookie year on a high note, by putting up a career-high 31 points against the Phoenix Suns in the season finale.
But things seemed to stall for the offensive-minded shooting guard, as he was able to just marginally improve in the years that followed.
He left Sacramento in the summer of 2017 for what he hoped would be greener pastures in Memphis, but a fractured right foot shortly after signing his two-year $10.6M deal cost him three months right off the bat.
McLemore played more minutes (1,091) than any of the other shooting guards on the roster but started just 17 of the 58 games he played in, averaging 7.5 PPG on 42% from the field.
How He Fits
Despite his past struggles, McLemore has always been a solid shooter and hard worker.
At 25, he is still young enough to resurrect his career, but will likely come off the bench for the Kings this season. He would be a valuable role player, and possible six man, for a young and hungry team looking to make some noise in the West.
Buddy Hield is penciled in as the starter at the two-guard spot this season, but McLemore should do enough to outplay Iman Shumpert for the backup role.
Final Thoughts
Neither the Kings nor the Grizzlies were very good teams when McLemore was on them, which may explain, at least partly, why he’s having such a forgettable career.
If things don’t work out, this may be the end of the line for the Kansas product, but McLemore is an immensely talented athlete who has had some bad breaks over the last five seasons.
A return to Cali may flip the script.
