Multiple reporters are confirming that the Kings will not be tendering Ben McLemore a qualifying offer, thus making him an unrestricted free agent. This move likely signals the end of McLemore’s disappointing Kings career.
McLemore was the first draft pick of the Vivek Ranadivé administration, and at the time there was a lot of excitement around the pick as he had been expected to go much higher. The Kings had been set to draft C.J. McCollum, but when McLemore unexpectedly slid to them at 7, they took him instead.
With the departure of Tyreke Evans, McLemore was given free reign from the very beginning, starting 55 of 82 games his rookie season and all 82 the next.