Atlanta Hawks: Top 5 Bench Players in 2016

In his first season with the Atlanta Hawks, we saw Kent Bazemore elevate his play to that of a key rotational player off the bench and a solid spot-starter for Coach Budenholzer’s team.  Known for his defensive prowess as a former Lefty Driesell Award Winner while at Old Dominion as the best defender in 2011 NCAA Division I hoops, Baze has been able to stick in the NBA despite being undrafted out of college.

While with the Atlanta Hawks, Kent became an effective outside shooter for the Hawks, sinking 36.4% of his threes including 42.2% from the corner.  With the litany of injuries to the Atlanta Hawks on the wing in 2015, Kent stepped up and began playing big minutes late in the season against players like LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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I see Bazemore potentially challenging Sefolosha for starts by January, especially if Kent continues to outshoot Thabo from the floor.  With DeMarre Carroll now in Toronto, Baze’s role on this Hawks’ squad is even more crucial than ever.  I don’t see any reason that would keep Kent from playing in just about every game for the Hawks in 2015-16.

Unless Hardaway grasps Bud’s defensive concepts right away and commands major minutes, expect Kent Bazemore to become the Atlanta Hawks’ best defensive wing coming off the bench this upcoming season.  Once Bazemore begins to play with more poise and not just raw athleticism and tireless energy, Coach Bud will have his next great weapon on the wing.  It wouldn’t surprise me to see Kent Bazemore as the heir apparent to the DeMarre Carroll role on the Atlanta Hawks in the coming season.

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