NBA Trade Rumors: Chicago Bulls Acquiring Sacramento Kings Guard

NBA trade rumors have been going on for several months that Jimmy Butler wants the Chicago Bulls to provide him with more support on the perimeter. According to Hoops Rumors, Ben McLemore of the Sacramento Kings could be that help. The Kings are said to be desperately trying to find a team that will give them a great trade package for McLemore, who is trying to leave the franchise as quickly as he possibly can.

The Sacramento Kings are an organization in disarray. The franchise allowed news to leak that they were firing head coach George Karl. That created a really awkward work environment for the veteran coach. Things became even weirder when Kings president Vlade Divac changed his mind at the last minute and decided to keep Karl on the job. The firing could take place after the season ends, but the embarrassment will linger longer than that.

Since things are so bad with the Sacramento Kings, it comes as no surprise that people will want to leave the organization. Even with reports that Kings owner Vivek Ranadive is going to hire an experienced general manager to work under Vlade Divac, players still would prefer to play elsewhere in the NBA. Ben McLemore’s agent has reportedly been trying to find a new destination for his client.

Ben McLemore shares the same agent with LeBron James. Earlier in the week, the Cleveland Cavaliers were trying to make a trade for the second-year guard. A deal was not finalized because the Cavaliers have been busy with other potential trades, including one that might enable Carmelo Anthony to team up with LeBron James. Fortunately for McLemore, his agent managed to draw some interest from the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls are currently sitting on a 27-25 record, which puts them at seventh in the Eastern Conference. Their chances of making the NBA Playoffs is still pretty high, but the season has to be considered a disappointment because they were expected to be much better than this. The season looks a bit grimmer now that Joakim Noah is out for the season and the status of Nikola Mirotic is unknown after his surgery.

There’s still time for NBA teams to make a change to alter their season, which is why the trade deadline is one of the more interesting times in sports. The Chicago Bulls can appease Jimmy Butler, their new franchise player now that Derrick Rose has declined considerably, by acquiring a guard that can help the team. Ben McLemore is talented enough to provide that help and make sure that the team goes to the postseason.

Ben McLemore suffered an injured wrist, which caused him to miss the last three games before the NBA All-Star break. Prior to that, McLemore played well enough for the Sacramento Kings that George Karl was able to trust him to play 21 minutes a night. Ben shot 37 percent from the three-point line, so opposing defenses would not sag away from him to double team the likes of Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, and Bobby Portis.

If the Chicago Bulls were to acquire Ben McLemore, then they can insert him into the starting shooting guard spot. Jimmy Butler is currently out for a month with a severe knee injury. The Bulls were forced to start E’Twaun Moore during their last game against the Atlanta Hawks. Moore shouldn’t be a starter in the NBA. McLemore, on the other hand, is capable of being a temporary starter.

[Featured Photo by Kevin C Cox/Getty Images]