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Philadelphia 76ers: Kings’ Ben McLemore An Option?

By George Kondoleon

Jan 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) shoots the ball over New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) shoots the ball over New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) during the second half at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia 76ers facing trade deadline: Is Sacramento King Ben McLemore an option?

The collision of theories between Sixers’ GM Sam Hinkie and President of Basketball Operations Jerry Colangelo has been passive, yet evident. The analytics and the eye test seemingly haven’t fully meshed in the basketball world, and the Sixers have brought two extremes of the divide into the same room to work together. In last year’s deadline, the team dealt former Rookie of The Year Award winner Michael Carter-Williams for future picks. The analytic group would praise the progressive realization of Sam Hinkie and company by noticing Carter-Williams’ value was at its peak, despite his evident weaknesses. The old-school group would question why a team trying to build with young talent would trade a young point guard who has already put his name in award categories. Hinkie’s free reign allowed him to disregard the old-school narrative last season, but the landscape of the Philadelphia 76ers’ front office has shifted.

This season, Hinkie will have to go through Colangelo (supposedly) to pull the trigger on a trade. The two ideologies will have to come together when decisions are made about player personnel moves. This brings us to trade options this season. NBC Sports has reported that the Sacramento Kings are working with their shooting guard Ben McLemore to find him a viable trade to another team. This is exactly the situation Sam Hinkie would expectedly jump at. McLemore, a former top ten pick, is just 23 years old and has proven to be a reliable threat from behind the three-point line, an aspect of the game the Sixers  have failed to find consistency in throughout the Hinkie-era. A young perimeter threat is on the team’s wishlist, but are they still willing to trade for young developing players, or is the team shifting towards a more veteran-like presence to put around this current young core?

A trade for Ben McLemore will not happen for the Sixers this year for two reasons; 1) The team is trying to shift towards obtaining more seasoned players, while still drafting potential stars with their plethora of picks. 2) The Kings are walking on eggshells around Sam Hinkie.

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McLemore’s value is still fairly high. The Kings have been mulling offers and reportedly drew interest from Cleveland for the young shooter. The Sixers will have to outdo other offers if they yearn for McLemore, and even if they do, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Kings to hang up the phone once they see Hinkie’s name on the caller ID. After the “fleecing” last summer where the Sixers obtained Nik Stauskas and pick swaps (amongst other assets), GM Vlade Divac, who finds himself on the hot seat, would be hard-pressed to avoid the trade dictator Sam Hinkie. Colangelo would probably suggest the team either stay quiet this deadline and attack the free agent market, or to trade for more established players anyway.

Although the trade won’t happen, it probably should happen. McLemore could potentially be the full package at the shooting guard position. His freakish athleticism combined with good shooting is exactly what the Sixers need at the guard position. He allows for more spacing, while also having the ability to find his way to the basket. Defensively he is serviceable, but is limited to the two-guard position defensively. McLemore also allows the team to shift their focus on obtaining a facilitating guard through the draft or a star-like wing player. He seems to help check the boxes off for the Sixers.

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Alas, the combination of the clashing Hinkie-Colangelo ideologies and the value for McLemore being fairly high will restrict the Sixers from making a deal. It will be interesting to see, however, whether the newly formed team of Colangelo and Hinkie could coexist when it comes to making personnel moves.