NBA Free Agency: Atlanta Hawks Signs Kent Bazemore To A $70 Million Deal

Coming into the off season, the Atlanta Hawks made Kent Bazemore one of their top priorities. According to ESPN.com, Bazemore came to a verbal agreement with the Hawks. While financial terms have not been officially revealed yet, sources are stating that the former Old Dominion Monarchs star is receiving a four year deal worth $70 million.

Kent Bazemore is 27 years old. He went from being undrafted to being one of the better 3-and-D players in the NBA. Bazemore was in line for a significant pay raise coming into free agency.

There were several teams in the NBA that were interested in signing Kent Bazemore. He met with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Talks between Bazemore and the Rockets went well. Before he resigned with the Atlanta Hawks, the Rockets and Lakers offered him a four year deal worth $72 million.

Kent Bazemore was seriously considering the Los Angeles Lakers offer. The Lakers traded for him in the 2014 NBA season. Bazemore only managed to play 23 games for them. He started in 15 games for the Lakers. Bazemore averaged a career high in points. He showed flashes of being a good player.

After the Atlanta Hawks were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kent Bazemore told the media that he would prefer to resign with the Hawks. There were some questions if he would return with the team. The Hawks wanted to get in on the race to sign Kevin Durant. Ultimately, the Hawks decided to stick with Bazemore.

Kent Bazemore decided to take $2 million less to stay with the Atlanta Hawks. He believes sticking with the Hawks was the best option for him. They were considered the San Antonio Spurs of the Eastern Conference. Their head coach, Mike Budenholzer, learned from one of the best coaches in the history of basketball.

Kent Bazemore was not the only person to sign with the Atlanta Hawks. They came to an agreement with Dwight Howard. The Hawks signed him to a three year deal worth $70.5 million. Atlanta is betting on Howard reestablishing himself as a dominant defensive presence.

With the addition of Dwight Howard, it might be safe to assume that Al Horford will not return to the Atlanta Hawks next season. Horford met with three teams on Friday. He met with the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets.

The Atlanta Hawks starting lineup next season will look different from last year. The projecting lineup could look like this. Dennis Schroder and Kyle Korver in the back court, along with Kent Bazemore, Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard.

Kent Bazemore can play both wing positions. Last season, he mostly played at small forward. Bazemore could be making the switch to shooting guard next season. The Atlanta Hawks traded Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers in a three team trade. They received the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft.

The Atlanta Hawks selected Taurean Prince with the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft. They are hoping that he can become a 3-and-D wing player. Some people believed that Prince can be the next DeMarre Carroll for the Hawks.

Taurean Prince and Kent Bazemore on the perimeter would be a good defensive combination for the Atlanta Hawks. That will only happen if Prince can adjust to the NBA fast.

Kent Bazemore will have to play a bigger role for the Atlanta Hawks next season. He was a consistent player for the Hawks last year. That is why they decided to give him a significant pay raise this summer. If Dwight Howard can return to form, the Hawks could have a dominant defensive team.