The Los Angeles Lakers have signed eight-year NBA veteran Ben McLemore to a contract for the remainder of the season.
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The Los Angeles Lakers signed shooting guard Ben McLemore to fill their final open roster spot, the team announced. The 28-years-old, has not been able to live up to his expectations this season after having a career year in 2019-20. Came into the NBA as a guard who was known for his athleticism and shooting potential. However, after a vital self-assessment, McLemore realized that he needs to get back to his potential after years of struggles with franchises.
The Lakers are having a solid season, they’re without superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis due to injury. McLemore’s arrival could help make up for some of the void without the dynamic duo intact.
Now that he’s with the Lakers, the passing clinics put on by a point-forward in James and the attention that will be given to Davis should afford him easier opportunities from outside. Teaming up with an otherworldly basketball mind and a long-time friend in James should only help McLemore play up to his potential.
McLemore will be another candidate who can provide 3-point shooting on the Lakers wing. The No. 7 pick in the 2013 NBA draft is a career 36.3% 3-point shooter, but he hit 40.2% from distance combined during the 2018-19 season with the Sacramento Kings (41.5%) and the 2019-20 season with Houston (40%).
McLemore has averaged 8.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in his eight seasons. While showing growth as a finisher and defender, McLemore’s most improved aspect would be as a shooter, he knocked down a stellar .400 percent of his 3-point attempts (on 6.4 attempts per game) in 2019-20 while averaging 10.1 points per game.
“We’re trying to win a championship up here and so as much firepower as we can get, as many weapons as we can get, we’re going to try to get,” said Frank Paul Vogel the LA Lakers coach. “And Ben instantly elevates our ability to knock down 3s on the backside when double-teams come and we can play the drive-and-kick game that the modern NBA is made on”.
