Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
A look at three very early trade scenarios for Kent Bazemore of the Atlanta Hawks. It’s never too early to take a stroll down Trade Machine Avenue.
The Atlanta Hawks have started the season in rather uneven fashion, though there have been plenty of flashes of the team’s fruitful future as well as some impressive performances from Hawks old and new.
For Kent Bazemore, the longest-tenured Hawks player currently on the roster, it’s been an up-and-down start to the year, but the six-year veteran has seemingly hit his stride over the past few games.
Against the Cavs, which was regarded as Trae Young’s “welcome to the NBA game” due to him scoring 35 points and dishing out 11 assists, Kent Bazemore recorded his best game of the young 2018-19 season as well with 23 points.
Baze followed that up with a sterling showing against the Mavs in which he poured in a career-high 32 points – besting his previous total of 29. Baze was dominant, and he punctuated the victory with an authoritative one-handed slam to give the Hawks a lead they would never relinquish:
Not only has Baze become an integral part of the Atlanta Hawks’ offense, he is also perhaps its most impactful perimeter defender as his speed, length and consistent effort and energy aid the Hawks on the less glamorous end.
All of these contribute to make Baze an extremely important player for the Hawks – but also an attractive trade target for multiple contending teams in either conference.
While Kent’s contract might be seen as prohibitive (he makes $37 million combined this year and next), he is a very good player and would help bolster any contender’s wing depth ahead of a potential playoff run.
We’ve outlined 3 very early trade scenarios for the Atlanta Hawks starting two guard, beginning with: