Kent Bazemore: Improved in 2016?

Kent Bazemore signed with the Atlanta Hawks last offseason in move to provide more wing depth off the bench.

His addition to the team was a savvy move by then GM Danny Ferry, adding an athletic and energetic player as an ancillary piece to supplement the club’s defense.

At 6’5’’, Bazemore is capable of playing both the shooting guard and small forward position. Bazemore took the road less traveled to becoming an impact player in the NBA: a long journey where many basketball players do not see the fruits of their labor come to fruition.

A product of Old Dominion University, Kent Bazemore thrived in college as a defensive specialist. After leading ODU to a 2011 NCAA Tournament berth, the NCAA recognized Bazemore for his defensive prowess by receiving the Lefty Driesell Award, which is given to the best collegiate defensive player.

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Kent Bazemore went un-drafted when he entered the league in 2012, and signed after the NBA Draft with Golden State Warriors following his play in the NBA Summer League and the Warriors D-League affiliate Santa Cruz. Bazemore made an impact in his first season as a member of the Warriors and became a rotation player for then Head Coach Mark Jackson.

In 2014, a trade sent Kent Bazemore from Oakland to the Lakers, where he had his first real taste of playing impact minutes for an NBA squad. During his time in Los Angeles, Bazemore demonstrated the potential to become a scoring threat, averaging 13.3 PPG game while filling in for the often injured Kobe Bryant.

“If Bazemore can continue to put in the work, develop his jump-shot, and become a more effective finisher, the Atlanta Hawks will have struck gold with another cheap “3&D” player.”

When Kent Bazemore signed with the Atlanta Hawks in September of 2014 on a 2 year, $4 million deal, the Hawks knew they were adding a player who could provide an immediate impact for the club. At the time, the did not know that the team would see a litany of injuries manifest themselves with key players over the course of the 82 game season and the playoffs and that Bazemore would have a profound impact on the Hawks record-breaking campaign.

Apr 19, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) controls a rebound against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Nets 99-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

At the beginning of the year, Kent Bazemore had a minimal presence in Head Coach Mike Budenholzer’s rotation, seeing roughly 10 minutes per game. Bazemore was recovering from foot surgery, and his role was still unclear in the early stages of the season.

When key reserve Thabo Sefolosha was lost in January to a calf injury in the midst of the Atlanta Hawks’ record-breaking 19 game winning streak, the Hawks expanded Kent Bazemore’s role, affording him key minutes off the bench as well as spot starts at shooting guard and small forward.

His defense was key to the Hawks success this season while the starting unit was on the bench, and despite the fact that his offense was a work in progress, he showed promise with a developing outside shot and the ability to get to the basket.

Bazemore’s offense was erratic at times, displaying an inability to consistently finish at the basket. After Kyle Korver was lost to an ankle injury during the Eastern Conference Finals, the Hawks inserted Bazemore into a starting role for the Atlanta Hawks. Though the Cavaliers were victorious, Kent Bazemore’s play during the series was admirable for a team decimated by injuries.

So what should the Atlanta Hawks expect from Kent Bazemore next season? He is entering the final year of his contract and given the lucrative contracts issued to wing players thus far this offseason, it is reasonable to posit that Bazemore will improve every facet of his game next season. With the league cap about to explode when the NBA’s new TV deal kicks in next season, Bazemore can position himself for a hefty payday.

Kent Bazemore’s game closely resembles DeMarre Carroll’s play. DeMarre Carroll is the poster-child for the Atlanta Hawks Player Development program. When Carroll came to Atlanta, he was a forgotten rotation player in Utah that played solid defense but had a limited offensive skill-set. During his two-year tenure with the Hawks, he became an effective jump-shooter and secondary offensive option, shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc and increased his ability to cut and finish at the basket. Carroll is now the highest paid player on the Toronto Raptors, making $15 million a year for the Drakes.

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