Atlanta Hawks: 3 Reasons Why Kent Bazemore Won’t be Traded This Season

Best All-Around Player on the Team (Currently)

Yes, Bazemore is the best “complete” player on the roster at this moment. This may be a tough pill to swallow for some Atlanta fans. The keyword in the equation is currently. Sure, he could improve in some areas and his health is suspect at times.

If you think about it, he has the most playoff experience out of anyone on the roster with the exception of NBA legend Vince Carter. Even though most Hawks fans and critics think that the 6-foot-5 guard is overpaid, he has produced when healthy.

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One thing to consider is that the team is in a rebuild with a first-year coach in Lloyd Pierce. Every first-year coach needs a player who has been connected to the team for multiple years. Baze is the final piece left from the Mike Budenholzer era.

Keeping the shooting guard around will help Pierce navigate through his first year. Younger players feed off of the energy of the six-year veteran. During Wednesday night’s game as the Hawks went on several runs, the team fed off of the defensive energy and pace of Bazemore who was constantly moving every play (like Richard Hamilton used to for the awesome early 2000s Detroit Pistons teams).

Statistically, it’s close between Prince, Young and Bazemore (although it’s based on very few games). However, KB provides defensive leadership, intensity and offensive versatility, which gets  overshadowed by the talent around him. Last but not least he can help motivate, encourage and mentor Young who is the future of the franchise.