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2016 NBA Trade Deadline Grades For All 30 Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) drives to the basket under pressure from Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris (12) at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Trade Deadline
Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Ben McLemore (23) grabs promotional mini basketball to throw to fans after defeating the Phoenix Suns 142-119 at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Sacramento Kings

My goodness were the Sacramento Kings close to blowing it once again. With this playoff-starved team currently sitting four games outside of the eighth seed in the Western Conference, the front office was desperately pining for any player they thought could help improve this team like a home-schooled virgin hitting on girls at his first college party.

Luckily, the Bulls spurned Sacramento’s advances of Ben McLemore and Kosta Koufos, preventing the Kings from trading away their fourth top-10 draft selection in their last five tries in the top-10 (Bismack Biyombo/Jimmer Fredette in 2011, Thomas Robinson in 2012, Nik Stauskas in 2014).

It’s not that McLemore is some impressive sharpshooter, and it is concerning that he’s failed to find his stride in his third NBA season and first full season under George Karl. But at some point, this team is going to have to commit to rebuilding the right way by developing their own draft picks and not hocking them for temporary upgrades at the earliest opportunity.

Grade: B-

Next: San Antonio Spurs