While the NBA Awards were getting ready to get handed out on Monday night, two teams were drumming up a trade prior to free agency, which begins in a week. The Portland Trail Blazers added a bit more offensive depth to their lineup, acquiring Kent Bazemore from the Atlanta Hawks. The trade saw Evan Turner go the other way to Atlanta, this after he spent the past three seasons in Portland. Before that, he began his NBA career as the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012. The former Ohio State Buckeyes star does have some flash in his game, and they are hoping that will add to the young up and coming Hawks' roster.
Bazemore has been one of the few veteran threats on the Hawks roster, spending five seasons with them, which made him the longest-tenured player on their roster before this trade. The 29-year-old was also the third-oldest member on the team, only behind the 42-year-old Vince Carter and the 30-year-old Miles Plumlee.
As one of the few players with some NBA experience, Bazemore started 35 of his 67 games played this past season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He will fit in nicely with the free-shooting Blazers, as he finished with a 32.0 percent mark from beyond the arc, which was good for seventh in the NBA.
On the other end, Turner is coming off his worst three-point shooting season of his nine-year career, finishing at just 21.2 percent from downtown. He did average 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in a limited role for the Blazers, but there may be more opportunity for him to step up his game, as he quickly becomes the veteran.
Bazemore has been one of the few veteran threats on the Hawks roster, spending five seasons with them, which made him the longest-tenured player on their roster before this trade. The 29-year-old was also the third-oldest member on the team, only behind the 42-year-old Vince Carter and the 30-year-old Miles Plumlee.
As one of the few players with some NBA experience, Bazemore started 35 of his 67 games played this past season, averaging 11.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He will fit in nicely with the free-shooting Blazers, as he finished with a 32.0 percent mark from beyond the arc, which was good for seventh in the NBA.
On the other end, Turner is coming off his worst three-point shooting season of his nine-year career, finishing at just 21.2 percent from downtown. He did average 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in a limited role for the Blazers, but there may be more opportunity for him to step up his game, as he quickly becomes the veteran.
