Kent Bazemore
Position: Small Forward
2015-16 Statistics: 11.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.3 APG
Slash Line: 44.1/35.7/81.5
The Hawks’ No. 1 priority in free agency wasn’t re-signing Al Horford or increasing their outside chance of landing Kevin Durant. It was to re-sign Kent Bazemore. They did just that when they agreed to a four-year, $70 million deal.
Bazemore has emerged as one of the best young wing players in the league and will look to take on much more responsibility than he had in the 2015-16 season.
Alongside Paul Millsap, Bazemore will be the top option offensively. Last season, he showed tremendous growth in his versatility by not attacking the rim viciously, but also becoming a threat from three.
Bazemore now has a full year of being the consistent starter. That, along with his new contract, will carry high expectations. Bazemore is more than capable of exceeding those expectations judging off his improvement from last season.
He’ll have plenty of opportunities to work in pick-and-roll situations with Dwight Howard as well as playing some of the point-forward this year. Those two changes alone will bolster his production as he begins to assert himself as the guy on this Hawks team.
Next: The Start Of Something Special