NBA Trade Rumor: Ben McLemore receiving interest from Cavaliers and other Eastern teams

#1
I'm Happy that other teams are interested in Ben. This offense is 60 percent DMC, 25 percent Gay, and 15 percent rest of the the Kings. Please don't hold me to those percentages is just a guesstimate on my part. But, Ben truly needs to try on at least 1 other team to see his true potential. I am one those people who wish he does get traded for the reason of growth.
 
#5
I have no doubt right now that if Ben was drafted by any other team than the kings, he'd be considered a solid starter with star potential right now.

Of course, the Kings can't develop for jack.
 
#6
Cavs are in an odd spot with JR, his contract is an oddity. It's a player option for 2.1 next season with incentive can go higher. Also he can decline trades this season. It's basically an opt out most likely next season.

Ben makes sense on the cheap possibly to them.
 
Last edited:

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#7
I have no doubt right now that if Ben was drafted by any other team than the kings, he'd be considered a solid starter with star potential right now.

Of course, the Kings can't develop for jack.
I have a lot of doubt about that. Poor ball handler without a naturally aggressive mindset towards scoring - I don't see Ben becoming a star in any circumstances.

The Kings have been horribly dysfunctional but they also gave been a starting job right out of the gate and allowed him to keep it even when he struggled. And game minutes are THE biggest thing for a players growth. I wouldn't say McLemore's lack of development is a one way street.
 
#8
I have a lot of doubt about that. Poor ball handler without a naturally aggressive mindset towards scoring - I don't see Ben becoming a star in any circumstances.

The Kings have been horribly dysfunctional but they also gave been a starting job right out of the gate and allowed him to keep it even when he struggled. And game minutes are THE biggest thing for a players growth. I wouldn't say McLemore's lack of development is a one way street.
Look at Kentavious Caldwell Pope.

He came out of college as a below average handler, but better than Ben. Both had problems driving to the rim, but Ben was actually the better finisher. Ben scored nearly 16pts. Compare his per 40 in shot attempts to KCP and there's only 2.4 difference. Don't forget that KCP had to carry a load at Georgia.. Georgia isn't exactly a powerhouse by any standards.
I see both of them very similar, but Ben came out of college nearly better at everything except ball handling.

Both come into the NBA at the same time and they get drafted after one another.
KCP(19.8mins) is terrible his 1st year. Ben(26.7mins) is terrible his 1st year.

2nd year?
KCP(31.5mins) struggles tremendously on offense, but he's shown a lot of signs on defense. He's starting to figure things out.
Ben(32.6mins) has a good offensive year with respectable shooting numbers. He's starts to show signs on defense.
At this point, Ben is better and he's showing a lot more.

3rd year?
KCP(36.9mins) has improved his scoring, but he still struggles shooting the ball. Ball handling has improved significantly from his 1st year. Has become a good defender. Mediocre offense with good defense. Mentality has become more aggressive.
Ben( 21mins) has improved his shooting, but struggles with consistency. Still shows signs on defense, but it's pretty bad with the entire Kings team. He's become a better passer, but his ball handling is unknown. He doesn't get many opportunities to show it off.


What's the real difference between these 2 players? Their teams.

The Kings have not developed Ben properly and it's taken a toll on the entire team. Imagine if Ben had a consistent coach all 3 years of his career.

Year 1: Malone for an entire year
Year 2: Malone for 25 games. Corbin for another 30 games. Karl for about 25 games.
Year 3: Karl for 50 games through a dysfunctional season full of snakes in the grass. Shortest leash on the team for every little mistake when you see Rondo, Gay, Cousins, and Belinelli cruising along.

In a total of 49 games he's played this season, he's only had more than 10 shot attempts in 6 of them.
Yet fans complain that we don't get enough production out of him. Ben only gets 16.2 passes a game right in front of Kofus and WCS. In comparison, Belinelli gets 29.

I just don't think this team has developed him well at all. Yes you can question his bball IQ, but what 20yearold players come out of the NBA with extremely high IQs? You can say the game is too fast for him, that could be a valid point. I just think a lot of our failures at the SG position have to do with our coaching with Ben.

Of the last few years, the only players we really successfully developed is Cousins and maybe Casspi.
 

hrdboild

Moloch in whom I dream Angels!
Staff member
#9
I have a lot of doubt about that. Poor ball handler without a naturally aggressive mindset towards scoring - I don't see Ben becoming a star in any circumstances.

The Kings have been horribly dysfunctional but they also gave been a starting job right out of the gate and allowed him to keep it even when he struggled. And game minutes are THE biggest thing for a players growth. I wouldn't say McLemore's lack of development is a one way street.
Is it lack of development though?

These are his per 36 numbers to date:


Look at the shooting percentages, assists, steals -- all trending up. Nothing is trending down, with the possible exception of free throw shooting (but that's on only 82 attempts this year) and turnovers (which tend to go up the more a player handles the ball). George Karl in his infinite wisdom has decided that his veteran SG putting up .386/.299/.862 deserves to play more minutes and fire up 66% more shots while Ben, with his 37% three point shooting and competent perimeter defense, deserves to sit out the fourth quarter.
 

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
#10
while Ben has been nothing special in his tenure here...I sure hope the Kings don't look to trade one of their young assets for scraps. I mean you can't just keep piling up on veterans and expect to win. There needs to be a good balance of youth and athleticism and veteran leadership/IQ. It's not one way or the other. I haven't been a big fan of Ben but Karl is not giving this kid a chance and I don't want to let him go just yet unless the right deal is there. If you are dealing with Cleveland, hang the phone up instantly. Nothing to see here.
 
#11
Is it lack of development though?

These are his per 36 numbers to date:


Look at the shooting percentages, assists, steals -- all trending up. Nothing is trending down, with the possible exception of free throw shooting (but that's on only 82 attempts this year) and turnovers (which tend to go up the more a player handles the ball). George Karl in his infinite wisdom has decided that his veteran SG putting up .386/.299/.862 deserves to play more minutes and fire up 66% more shots while Ben, with his 37% three point shooting and competent perimeter defense, deserves to sit out the fourth quarter.
Great chart, thanks for gathering that. Interesting too that he's taking fewer 3s this season but hitting them at a better rate (even accounting for pace--the link to per 100 possessions is here and perhaps is slightly more accurate considering the breakneck pace this squad has played at, although the trends are the same: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mclembe01.html#per_poss::none)
 

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#12
Ben has gotten more efficient as a shooter but he hasn't really shored up his weaknesses. He's gotten better as a player (even with Karl inexplicably playing Belinelli so many minutes and running so many more plays for him) even among the dysfunction. And he'd be further along on another team with less dysfunction. I won't argue either of those points.

My issue is the idea that Ben would be a surefire starter on any other team in the league and have star potential.

Under the best circumstances Ben would be a backup SG on very good teams and I don't see any way he has star potential regardless of who is coaching/developing him.
 
#13
I'm a bit hesitant to trade Ben straight up for Shumpert. He's been injury prone. Missed 23 games his 1st season. Missed 38 games his 2nd season. Missed 8 games his 3rd season. Missed 20 games his 4th season. Missed 22/52 games this season thus far.

He helps us win now, so I see the reason behind it. He's a defensive specialists that offers almost nothing on offense. I'd be ok with it if there was something else attached to it.

Is it lack of development though?

These are his per 36 numbers to date:


Look at the shooting percentages, assists, steals -- all trending up. Nothing is trending down, with the possible exception of free throw shooting (but that's on only 82 attempts this year) and turnovers (which tend to go up the more a player handles the ball). George Karl in his infinite wisdom has decided that his veteran SG putting up .386/.299/.862 deserves to play more minutes and fire up 66% more shots while Ben, with his 37% three point shooting and competent perimeter defense, deserves to sit out the fourth quarter.
I think he needs to be playing more this year. Karl can say that Marco is a better shooter and floor spacer, but we don't need that. We need defense. Ben is arguably one of our best defenders on the team. Is he good? No, but he's a hell lot better than the other guys.
I really don't see the argument in giving Belinelli all of these minutes.

The other thing that really troubles me is how little his teammates actually look to give him the ball.

Grant and a lot of fans have said this time after time. "McLemore disappeared in again". You mean the guy that his teammates rarely pass to? The same one who occasionally gets ignored in transition? Same one who's always back on the other side of the floor first? THAT guy?

Ben has gotten more efficient as a shooter but he hasn't really shored up his weaknesses. He's gotten better as a player (even with Karl inexplicably playing Belinelli so many minutes and running so many more plays for him) even among the dysfunction. And he'd be further along on another team with less dysfunction. I won't argue either of those points.

My issue is the idea that Ben would be a surefire starter on any other team in the league and have star potential.

Under the best circumstances Ben would be a backup SG on very good teams and I don't see any way he has star potential regardless of who is coaching/developing him.
I just think his overall tools and shooting are extremely hard to ignore. Athletic, quick, and a great shooter. He's great in transition. He's great in the passing lanes. Currently, he's a decent defender. He has potential to be a really good defender. He's not a good ball handler, but he's really good at attacking in a straight-line drive. Great finisher around the rim. Very good off-ball player who knows how to cut. He's also a very good above the rim player.

This year, he's showed us an improved handle, but coach never lets him handle the ball. He's a really good back-door cutter, but this offense doesn't run plays like that. He's also a good above the rim player, but again...this offense doesn't allow for lobs to SGs. He's good in passing lanes, but apparently Rondo is the only one who has permission to gamble in the lanes without getting his head chopped off.

We both just have different perspectives of raw athletic wings who can shoot and attack the rim. No problem with that at all.
 
Last edited:
#14
I have no doubt right now that if Ben was drafted by any other team than the kings, he'd be considered a solid starter with star potential right now.

Of course, the Kings can't develop for jack.
I'm not convinced you are right. Ben is Ben. He may make it but I have to be convinced he is anything other than a marginal starter for anyone. Who's going to be better he or Staukas? I don't know.
 

hrdboild

Moloch in whom I dream Angels!
Staff member
#15
Ben has gotten more efficient as a shooter but he hasn't really shored up his weaknesses. He's gotten better as a player (even with Karl inexplicably playing Belinelli so many minutes and running so many more plays for him) even among the dysfunction. And he'd be further along on another team with less dysfunction. I won't argue either of those points.

My issue is the idea that Ben would be a surefire starter on any other team in the league and have star potential.

Under the best circumstances Ben would be a backup SG on very good teams and I don't see any way he has star potential regardless of who is coaching/developing him.
I think Ben is a middle of the pack starting SG right now, mostly because the standards of the position have been in steady decline for a decade. By the time he hits his prime, he could be one of the 10 best SGs in the league. Not All-Star level, but well worth keeping around. Especially when our other options are an unproven 25 year old D-League star and a veteran who can't seem to do anything right this season.

The "star potential" is mostly about his athleticism and shooting ability. If he's a 42% three point shooter who can jump out of the gym in a few years, doesn't that get him a $12 million dollar per year paycheck with the salary cap inflation and appalling low supply of decent SGs? He'll never be a star on this team as long as he's the 4th or 5th option, but you have to admit he's got the right kinds of tools to excel in the league. The main things still holding him back are lack of aggressiveness and/or confidence and teammates who rarely pass him the ball.
 
Last edited:

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#16
Who's arguing that? I think Ben is a middle of the pack starting SG right now, mostly because the standards of the position have been in steady decline for a decade. By the time he hits his prime, he could be one of the 10 best SGs in the league. Not All-Star level, but well worth keeping around. Especially when our other options are an unproven 25 year old D-League star and a veteran who can't seem to do anything right this season.
It's what 206fan said above that I was initially responding to.

I'm not down on Ben by the way. I think if Malone had never been fired he'd be developing nicely as a 3 and D wing. But when I think of star SGs, outside of Rip Hamilton in his prime and Reggie Miller I can't think of many with poor ball handling and who can't create their own shot. That and I think Ben is honestly too nice a kid (and seemingly a bit naive) for his own good. He has the tools (if he developed his handle) but I don't think he has the mindset.

But again, agree to disagree. I don't have an issue with that either.
 

hrdboild

Moloch in whom I dream Angels!
Staff member
#17
It's what 206fan said above that I was initially responding to.

I'm not down on Ben by the way. I think if Malone had never been fired he'd be developing nicely as a 3 and D wing. But when I think of star SGs, outside of Rip Hamilton in his prime and Reggie Miller I can't think of many with poor ball handling and who can't create their own shot. That and I think Ben is honestly too nice a kid (and seemingly a bit naive) for his own good. He has the tools (if he developed his handle) but I don't think he has the mindset.

But again, agree to disagree. I don't have an issue with that either.
Missed that the first time, that's why I went back and edited it out. :)
 
#18
I'm a bit hesitant to trade Ben straight up for Shumpert. He's been injury prone. Missed 23 games his 1st season. Missed 38 games his 2nd season. Missed 8 games his 3rd season. Missed 20 games his 4th season. Missed 22/52 games this season thus far.
Shumpert criticism is fair, he has injury history and makes a lot of money. Obviously for cap economics we'd have to send more away. But those are legitimate concerns.
 
#19
I think Ben is a middle of the pack starting SG right now, mostly because the standards of the position have been in steady decline for a decade. By the time he hits his prime, he could be one of the 10 best SGs in the league. Not All-Star level, but well worth keeping around. Especially when our other options are an unproven 25 year old D-League star and a veteran who can't seem to do anything right this season.

The "star potential" is mostly about his athleticism and shooting ability. If he's a 42% three point shooter who can jump out of the gym in a few years, doesn't that get him a $12 million dollar per year paycheck with the salary cap inflation and appalling low supply of decent SGs? He'll never be a star on this team as long as he's the 4th or 5th option, but you have to admit he's got the right kinds of tools to excel in the league. The main things still holding him back are lack of aggressiveness and/or confidence and teammates who rarely pass him the ball.
He's only got 1 year of a cheap contract left. After that if he turns it around we have to match. Because of that, if we move him I'd want some security of a couple of seasons at least in return contractually.

No way I move Ben for an expiring.
 
#20
Is it lack of development though?

These are his per 36 numbers to date:


Look at the shooting percentages, assists, steals -- all trending up. Nothing is trending down, with the possible exception of free throw shooting (but that's on only 82 attempts this year) and turnovers (which tend to go up the more a player handles the ball). George Karl in his infinite wisdom has decided that his veteran SG putting up .386/.299/.862 deserves to play more minutes and fire up 66% more shots while Ben, with his 37% three point shooting and competent perimeter defense, deserves to sit out the fourth quarter.
I think part of the reason why Karl plays Belinelli is because of his ball movement and IQ.

Ben reminds me of a pick up game player. He has his skills but he doesn't play very well within the flow of the offense. Watch when he gets passed the ball and can't fire an open shot or drive to the basket. He doesn't know what to do. Many times he just ends up dribbling right up to Cousins or Rondo and basically hands them the ball with 5 seconds left on the clock. At that point they're forced to do something about it and more often than not it ends up in a poor shot with the clock winding down. Belinelli gets the ball and either shoots or gets rid of it, which keeps things flowing. You can tell that Ben doesn't really know what to do beyond his couple of moves and can't overcome anyone playing competent defense on him.

The problem with the Kings obviously isn't offense but I thought I'd play devils advocate here. Ben's efficiency is pretty solid but his overall contribution to the offense gets a little sketchy when you take the eye test into consideration.
 
#23
The double standard is funny sometimes. The majority of folks love to flaunt stats and analytics. Except when it favors Ben, then it's all about IQ and aggressiveness and ball handling and play making. People love to say Ben has been gifted the starting job, but can't name anyone who has deserved it over him. The last 2 years we've supposedly had smart, ready to play, lights out shooters who will make everyone on the court better because of their IQ and play making ability. Yet these players never out play Ben statistacally or even make our team measurably better.

But we keep pushing this silly narrative that if we just had a better SG. Last year, the whole key was we needed someone shooting above 36% from three. Now that we have that, it's now we don't care about his shooting, we need a defender like Shumpert.

We already have our SG. He can play two ways. He can athletically run out on a fast break for a lob or spot up and hit the three. He's a good defender when not asked to play some incoherant hybrid zone. He's improved his passing and dribbling.

He's not going to be Kobe Bryant. The fact that people are demanding that he be a great shooter, ball handler, play maker, offense initiator and lock down defender suggests that we want Kobe. Not gonna happen.

I'll repeat this point from a different one of my posts. A championship caliber team sees Ben as a suitable replacement/insurance guy for their run. That is not insignificant. I'd be willing to bet that the other east teams that have inquired about Ben are playoff contenders.
 
#24
he hasn't even shown enough flashes or had more than 5 breakout games to even make such a statement
It's funny that in about 45 games this season, he's only had more than 10 shot attempts in 6 of them.
Ben just doesn't really have the opportunity to breakout here.
 
#25
He doesn't know what to do. Many times he just ends up dribbling right up to Cousins or Rondo and basically hands them the ball with 5 seconds left on the clock. At that point they're forced to do something about it and more often than not it ends up in a poor shot with the clock winding down. Belinelli gets the ball and either shoots or gets rid of it, which keeps things flowing.
I call BS on this. Ben rarely has the ball on offense and he never holds on to it. When he gives the ball to Cousins, it's usually because they are going through Ben to make the entry pass. At the end of the shot clock, Ben hardly ever has the ball.

On the Bellineli point, throwing up poor shots or shooting a poor percentage doesn't equal flow. If Ben were taking those shots, there is no way you would praise him.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#26
It's funny that in about 45 games this season, he's only had more than 10 shot attempts in 6 of them.
Ben just doesn't really have the opportunity to breakout here.
He doesn't have the talent to really break out here.

Scot Pollard warned us about him before he was even drafted. Passive guards who can't create on their own are always a dubious investment. They need to be brilliant off the ball guys, and pure pure shooters. But Ben doesn't even have great off the ball instincts, and his shot form far exceeds his shot results.

Classic kid who really needed to stay in college to work out the kinks. He's a better player now than he was 2 years ago, but that's almost the most damning part. His improvements have been incremental, when they needed to be huge steps. The talk about him, the irrational support from some corners, reminds me a bit of Jimmer. If somebody would just turn their whole offense over to him, THEN you'd see. Except that's not the way it works. NBA teams don't exist to provide on the job training for guys. Ben was a guy who needed the 4 years of college, or a stronger D-League than the league has now. Someplace to play, and fail, and work on things, get some coaching.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#27
I'll repeat this point from a different one of my posts. A championship caliber team sees Ben as a suitable replacement/insurance guy for their run. That is not insignificant. I'd be willing to bet that the other east teams that have inquired about Ben are playoff contenders.
I might as well suggest that the Cavs, with three All-Stars/20+ppg scorers, basically see Ben as a 6ppg 15-20min bit of youth to run with Bron in spots.

That may not be entirely wrong. the difference is that that's all they need.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#29
He doesn't have the talent to really break out here.

Scot Pollard warned us about him before he was even drafted. Passive guards who can't create on their own are always a dubious investment. They need to be brilliant off the ball guys, and pure pure shooters. But Ben doesn't even have great off the ball instincts, and his shot form far exceeds his shot results.

Classic kid who really needed to stay in college to work out the kinks. He's a better player now than he was 2 years ago, but that's almost the most damning part. His improvements have been incremental, when they needed to be huge steps. The talk about him, the irrational support from some corners, reminds me a bit of Jimmer. If somebody would just turn their whole offense over to him, THEN you'd see. Except that's not the way it works. NBA teams don't exist to provide on the job training for guys. Ben was a guy who needed the 4 years of college, or a stronger D-League than the league has now. Someplace to play, and fail, and work on things, get some coaching.
I agree completely that he should have stayed in college, and I said so prior to the draft. The problem is that Ben came from a family where they slept 5 kids to a bed. I know exactly where he lived because I grew up about 3 or 4 blocks from there. So money trumped logic in Ben's case, and I completely understand. I suspect that if I were in his shoes, I would have done the same thing. Of course good intentions don't make you a good player, only hard work does, along with opportunity. Although he was handed the opportunity, it came before the hard work that was needed.

Scott did warn us about his demeanor on the court and that was common knowledge to anyone that watched him play at Kansas. Scott also warned us, and more severely about Thomas Robinson. Strangely, if you could have put Thomas Robinson's aggressive nature into McLemore, you'd probably have a special player right now.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#30
It's funny that in about 45 games this season, he's only had more than 10 shot attempts in 6 of them.
Ben just doesn't really have the opportunity to breakout here.
Ben in fact averages around 6 shots a game. If you look at just his efficiency, it makes you wonder why he's not taking more shots. He's shooting 45.1% overall, which isn't great, but it's not bad either, and 37.2% from the three, which is fairly good. On the other hand, Belinelli is taking 10 shots a game while shooting 38.8% overall, which is terrible, and 29.9% from the three, which is horrible. That's for the entire season folks. I think anyone would be justified in asking why, in god's name is Belinelli getting so many minutes and touches? To put that in perspective, Cousins is currently shooting 34.9% from the three, which is better, not only then Belinelli, but also Gay, who is shooting 34.2% from the three. Of course Gay makes up for it to some extent by shooting 47.3% overall.

If we were to play players based solely on their percentages, Casspi would be getting the most minutes and touches. The dude is shooting 48.8% overall, the best on the team not including WCS who is shooting 60.5% overall, and he's shooting 42.2% from the three. Next in line would be Collison who is extremely efficient, taking 10 shots a game and shooting 47.5% overall, and 38.1% from the three.

I guess the question is, if were going to give Ben more shots, who is going to take less. I know my choice at this point would be Belinelli. Anyway, here are the main players and a rounded number of shots they take a game.
Cousins: 20 spg
Gay: 15 spg
Rondo: 11 spg (interesting that the player not noted for shooting is third in spg)
Collison: 10 spg
Belinelli: 10 spg
Casspi: 9 spg
McLemore: 6 spg
Willie Cauley-Stein: 4 spg

Strikes me that if your going on efficiency, then Casspi should be getting more shots per game. If were going to be honest here, then Belinelli shouldn't even be playing. His efficiency is terrible, and his defense is terrible. I think having his start has helped him a little, but not enough. If someone wants to trade for him, done deal. He's basically doing more to help us lose games than win games. One more thing that bears mentioning. I spent total attention to Rondo's defense in the last game, and it was at times non-existent. More often than not, he either gave up on a play, or just stood in center field and hoped for a steal while guarding no one. Sis or seven times during the game he completely just let his man wander to the corner for an open three. I was fairly disgusted by the end of the game. Little or no effort on defense.