3 free agent wings Cavs could sign with Taxpayer MLE

3 free agent wings Cavs could sign: Ben McLemore

It seems impossibly long ago that Ben McLemore was the latest in a series of draft “busts” by the Sacramento Kings, going seventh overall out of Kansas in the 2013 NBA Draft. He never managed to realize his potential to be a shot-creating wing star, and the most memorable moment of his career was having his lunch money stolen by Kawhi Leonard on consecutive plays.

Yet while some top prospects struggle to be anything other than “the man” some make a successful transition into being role players, and to his credit, McLemore has done exactly that. He has bounced around the league for an eight-year career and reinvented himself as a solid, high volume outside shooter who competes on defense.

Last season he came off the bench for the Portland Trail Blazers, a gunner who spaces the floor and isn’t afraid to let it rip. Teams can use a player who will take open shots with no hesitation, and McLemore can provide that without being a complete sieve on defense.

The stink of playing for a losing team may depress McLemore’s value to a minimum deal, but if it takes part of the Taxpayer MLE to bring him in it could be worth a look.