The OKC Thunder have one roster spot remaining and have two games to fill it. Should Oklahoma City take a look at former first-round pick Ben McLemore?
With two regular season games remaining, the OKC Thunder are battling for playoff positioning with seeds four through eight yet to be determined. OKC host the Houston Rockets and travel to Milwaukee to play the bucks with both games having huge playoff ramifications. Aside from fighting for post-season seeding, the Thunder are yet to fill its 15th roster spot. With limited options available, Oklahoma City are unlikely to find a player who can be a difference maker.
Should the Thunder take a chance on for first-round pick Ben McLemore?
Originally touted as the next Ray Allen, McLemore’s career has been disappointing to say the least. In four years as a pro, the 26-year-old is averaging 3.9 points on 39.1 percent shooting and 41.3 percent from three in 8.3 minutes per game. While McLemore doesn’t do much else but shoot the rock, he can get hot in a hurry and certainly doesn’t lack in confidence.
In one of his best performances this season, McLemore posted 20 points including four triples against the Phoenix Suns.
At 6’4 with a 6’8 wingspan, McLemore has let himself down with lackadaisical effort on the defensive end. The 26-year-old is prone to ball watching and shows no urgency guarding his man off the ball. If the Thunder look to acquire him, its purely for his ability to shoot the ball unconsciously and fill up the scoreboard.
Toronto WAS interested
When McLemore was waived by the Sacramento Kings, the Toronto Raptors showed strong interest in the guard and looked to sign him to a 10-day contract.
Ben McLemore will sign 10-day with Toronto Raptors after he clears waivers, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/WBu9pAfdY7
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) February 9, 2019
However, when former Atlanta Hawk Jeremy Lin became available, the Raps withdrew its offer to
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McLemore and signed Lin through to the end of the season. As it stands, McLemore remains a free agent and is playoff eligible since he wasn’t on an NBA roster after the March 1st deadline.
If the Thunder are looking to fill out its roster, having someone like McLemore makes sense given his ability to shoot the rock. OKC needs a shooter who launches unconsciously and the 26-year-old fits the bill. Is he worth the a shot this time of year? Probably not but at least he can shoot the ball.
At the minute, the Thunder are struggling to shoot from the perimeter so why not.