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10 players to watch for on buyout market after 2019 NBA Trade Deadline

By Daniel Lubofsky

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Carmelo Anthony attends Miami Heat v New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 27: Carmelo Anthony attends Miami Heat v New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on January 27, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

9. Ben McLemore

Remember prior to the 2013 NBA Draft, when Ben McLemore was touted as the prospect most likely to make an All-Star team coming out of Kansas? That was so long ago, and his career arc hasn’t taken on anything of the sort.

McLemore played sparingly in a return to the Sacramento Kings this season, averaging just 8.3 minutes a night in 19 total games played. He’s just never been able to develop at the pro level — shocking in a way given the trends of the league aligning perfectly with his skill-set on the offensive end.

At this crossroads in his career, the sixth-year guard would probably be best suited for a limited role on a structured and disciplined team. At 35.3 percent for his career from beyond the arc, he can still provide value as a floor-spacing shooter — a trait that can keep players in the league far beyond expected.

Plenty of front offices have proven willing to take flyers on young guys who still have potential worth left in them. As a buyout victim, teams can sign McLemore to a minimal deal, creating a low-risk opportunity for a guy who has yet to technically enter his prime at just 25 years of age.