Atlanta Hawks: Grading the Evan Turner, Kent Bazemore Swap

What the Deal Means for the Atlanta Hawks

The outgoing Kent Bazemore is entering the final year of his contract, that will pay him 19.3 million dollars next season.  Evan Turner is also in the last year of a four-year deal and he will make 18.6 million dollars this upcoming year. The deal saves the Atlanta Hawks nearly 700 thousand dollars against the cap. However this trade is not about finances, it is about fit. Adding another long ball handler, shows that Atlanta is dedicated to adding as many players that can create as possible. This should provide the Hawks the opportunity to vary their offense, by featuring Trae Young off ball in certain sets.

Here is another clip of the tremendous creativity and passing ability that Evan Turner displays when playing the role of facilitator, via the Boston Celtics Twitter page:

Atlanta Hawks Trade Grade: B+

The move also shows that the Atlanta Hawks are also dedicated to improving defensively, due to Evan Turner being a better defender than Kent Bazemore. The only part that I question about Evan’s fit, is his ability to play together on the second unit with DeAndre’ Bembry. Improvement on the 28.9 percent from beyond the arch by Bembry, will be key to the two men being effective on the floor together. We could also see a Turner/Bembry pick and roll, with both men alternating as the ball handler and surrounded with three other shooters. Travis Schlenk sent Kent Bazemore to a great situation, where he joins a team that was in the Western Conference Finals just last season. He will have the opportunity to compete for a championship, for the first time in years. Agents and players will take note of the good gesture by Schlenk and it should help boost the Hawks profile as a viable free agent destination. That fact certainly wasn’t lost on Kent Bazemore, when he took to Twitter to thank the Atlanta Hawks organization:

The Atlanta Hawks Twitter account returned the favor and a warm exchange ensued:

Thank You Kent Bazemore

Though it was definitely time for a change, on behalf of Atl All Day, I would like to thank Kent Bazemore for all he has given to the Atlanta Hawks and the community in Atlanta. He has a genuine love for the city and organization. Though there were certainly ups and downs in Kent’s time here, I will always remember the energy and enthusiasm he provided for the team. The “Baze Gaze” with go down in Hawks history, when it come to victory celebrations. It is a signature of Hawks wins in recent years, along with the “Bud wave” , the post game Twitter scoreboard picture, by reporter Jameelah Johnson (aka Scoreboad Shawty), and “All I Do is Win” blaring through the sound system of Phillips Arena after a win. I wish Kent Bazemore the best as he chases a ring in Portland. We salute you, Atlanta Hawks Legend Kent Bazemore.