The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hawks trade Bazemore to Blazers for Turner
Popular guard’s role had diminished during rebuild.
The Hawks moved on from their longest-tenured player by trading guard Kent Bazemore to the Trail Blazers for Evan Turner on Monday.
Bazemore is about to enter the final year of a contract that will pay him $19.3 million. Turner is about to enter the final year of a contract that will pay him $18.6 million. Both signed four-year deals as free agents in 2016.
Bazemore, 29, played the past five seasons with the Hawks, finding a home after stops with the Warriors and Lakers. He made it to the NBA after going undrafted out of Old Dominion in 2010.
He averaged 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 2017-18, his best season with Hawks. He averaged 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists last season, and fell out of the starting lineup midway through the season after a three-year stint as the team’s shooting guard.
“We are appreciative of Kent’s contributions to the Hawks organization and to the greater Atlanta community over the last five years,” GM Travis Schlenk said in a statement. “We wish him and his family all the best.”
Bazemore signed a fouryear, $70 million contract with the Hawks in 2016, turning down richer contracts elsewhere. He became entrenched in the community with his charity, the ARMS Foundation, and got married. He and his wife recently had their first child. The annual golf tournament to benefit his foundation is scheduled for this week.
Bazemore’s role has diminished during an ongoing rebuild of the organization and it was likely to decrease more with the Hawks’ draft additions of De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish. By moving Bazemore, the Hawks open more playing time for Kevin Huerter, Hunter and Reddish. It also gives Bazemore an opportunity to play for a contender.
The Hawks were also in need of a backup point guard. Behind starter Trae Young, Jaylen Adams, a two-way player for much of last season, is the only natural point guard. Turner, who played for coach Lloyd Pierce with the 76ers, will assume the role of the backup. The roster now stands at 14 players.
Turner, 30, has appeared in 686 career games in nine NBA seasons with the 76ers, Pacers, Celtics and Trail Blazers, where he spent the past three seasons. Turner was the No. 2 overall pick by the 76ers in 2010 out of Ohio State. “The versatility he has shown throughout his career will be valuable for us,” Schlenk said in the statement.
Bazemore was the last remaining Hawk from the 60-win team that advanced to the Eastern Conference finals in the 2014-15 season. With the pending trade of Taurean Prince, DeAndre Bemby becomes the longest-tenured Hawk. He is about to enter his fourth season.