Ben McLemore

McLemore was able to have a bit of a bounce-back campaign with the Rockets in 2019-20, seeing his most minutes per game (22.8) since 2014-15, his sophomore season with the Kings. With Houston, he averaged 10.1 points, 2.5 threes and 2.2 rebounds. While his performance was great for his career, it still wasn't particularly helpful for fantasy managers, as he ranked just inside the Top 225 on a per-game basis. Moving forward, it seems most likely that McLemore will be a pure spot-up shooter who contributes little else for fantasy beside threes. As a result, heading in 2020-21, the vast majority of fantasy managers can ignore the 28-year-old unless absolutely desperate for performance from beyond the arc.

McLemore spent the first four years of his career with the Kings. But, he wasn't re-signed by the team after his rookie deal and ended up garnering a two-year, $10.6 million contract from the Grizzlies. His struggles continued there. Appearing in just 56 games, McLemore averaged 7.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting just 42.1 percent from the field and hitting a three per game at 34.6 percent. Memphis looked to shop him, and ended up finding a suitor in McLemore’s original team, Sacramento. He isn't expected to play a significant role this season, and could be in line for the smallest workload of his career considering the Kings’ depth on the wing. Only Fantasy owners in the deepest leagues should consider drafting the former seventh overall pick.

McLemore, who signed a two-year, $10.7 million deal with the Grizzlies over the summer, likely won’t be in action until early November after suffering a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a pick-up game in Los Angeles. He isn't projected to miss more than a month or so of regular season games, though will miss out on valuable offseason time to work on his game. Overall, this development shouldn't affect his Fantasy stock too much, but those who take a chance on him probably shouldn't be surprised if he starts off slow and/or misses games here and there with lingering soreness. While the 6-foot-6 shooting guard hasn't had a noteworthy career up to this point, Memphis lacks depth at the position, seemingly giving McLemore plenty of opportunities to prove himself. Of note, the 24-year-old has increased his three-point percentage each year he’s been in the league, starting at 32.0 percent his rookie year and finishing at 38.2 percent last season. Other areas of his game have remained relatively stagnant, which is likely why the Kings seemingly felt little remorse about letting him walk after his rookie deal expired. He may be worth consideration in the later rounds of deeper leagues, but his averages from 2016-17 of 8.1 points and 2.1 rebounds across 19.3 minutes certainly don’t jump off the page. It may be best to wait and see what kind of workload he receives with his new team, as well as how his health looks, before jumping on board.

Following a disappointing rookie campaign in 2013-14, McLemore displayed significant improvement across the board in his sophomore season, averaging 12.1 points and 1.7 assists while shooting 44 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc. Each of those numbers represented an increase from his rookie year, with the most improvement displayed in his shot selection and field goal percentage. McLemore's strength is his top-level athleticism which he uses to finish well at the rim, particularly on fast breaks. His main weakness is his inability to defend opposing shooting guards, grading out as bottom-five defender versus opposing twos in each of the past two seasons. He'll now be paired with an elite distributor in Rajon Rondo which should help his ability to score, but McLemore may now face competition for minutes from Darren Collison and Marco Belinelli. The upcoming season could help establish whether McLemore takes his game to the next level or becomes merely a rotation player on a below-average NBA team.

The uber-athletic McLemore flew under the radar as a rookie, despite playing in all 82 games and making 55 starts. One of the best athletes in the league at the shooting guard spot, McLemore struggled offensively last season, posting an ugly 38 overall shooting percentage. A three-point marksman in his one season at Kansas, McLemore shot a disappointing 32 percent from long range. He also added 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist. Despite the relatively poor rookie numbers, McLemore remains one of the NBA's highest upside talents. He had a solid showing at the Las Vegas Summer League, but 2014 first-round pick, Nik Stauskas, performed well there too. The sharpshooter out of Michigan isn't as athletic as McLemore, but he's a more polished overall player and will certainly challenge McLemore for the starting shooting guard spot.

McLemore is the starting shooting guard for the Kings. McLemore was widely projected as the second overall pick in last summer's draft, but shockingly fell all the way to the Kings at pick number seven. Now, with little chance of a winning season and heading into a highly anticipated draft class, the Kings have every reason to give McLemore as much court time as he needs to develop. Even if he stumbles, he will continue to receive opportunities to improve. In his only season at Kansas, he was a remarkably efficient shooter – averaging .495 FG, .420 3Pt, and .870 FT. He is capable of providing some steals, blocks, and assists, and is a strong rebounder. If McLemore's game can translate to the professional level – a big "if", especially in light of the six teams that passed on the prospect last summer during a "weak" draft – he has the potential to positively contribute in almost every category.