There is no way the Kings can afford the future money, the roster spot or the court minutes for Ben anymore.
There's simply too much of a log-jam of players there, and the downsides of Ben (defense, IQ, clumsiness, rookie mistakes, etc) overwhelm the positives (shooting... sometimes) that he brings.
With Buddy Hield the obvious future starting 2 guard (ignoring Tyreke), and Temple and Malachi firmly etched into the backup 2 spot, and there's no freaking way Ben can play the 3 (anyone watch him get absolutely destroyed by Gallinari?), he doesn't have a spot on the team anymore, even if he's finally sputtering to life lately.
Too little, too late for Ben.
He is what he is - a colossal waste of serious investment by the franchise.
He didn't come through in FOUR years, and now the only way to benefit from him is if they somehow get value in trading him (during a qualifying offer?).
There's simply too much of a log-jam of players there, and the downsides of Ben (defense, IQ, clumsiness, rookie mistakes, etc) overwhelm the positives (shooting... sometimes) that he brings.
With Buddy Hield the obvious future starting 2 guard (ignoring Tyreke), and Temple and Malachi firmly etched into the backup 2 spot, and there's no freaking way Ben can play the 3 (anyone watch him get absolutely destroyed by Gallinari?), he doesn't have a spot on the team anymore, even if he's finally sputtering to life lately.
Too little, too late for Ben.
He is what he is - a colossal waste of serious investment by the franchise.
He didn't come through in FOUR years, and now the only way to benefit from him is if they somehow get value in trading him (during a qualifying offer?).