Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks
The Jazz saw firsthand what Kent Bazemore can do last week when the Atlanta Hawks beat them 104-90. His 11 points didn’t jump off the box score, but his three 3-pointers and defensive effort loomed large in the game. For the night, Atlanta was plus-13 in Bazemore’s 23 minutes.
And that’s what you get from the undrafted afterthought turned NBA 3-and-D mainstay — smart, solid (if unspectacular) play and a yeoman’s effort night in and night out. Bazemore is putting up 13 points, four boards and four assists per game this season while knocking down 37 percent of his triples.
Utah has been rumored to have interest in him in the past and the Hawks may be inclined to move him to clear space for a big play in free agency or to collect assets for their rebuild.
He may not have Rodney Hood’s offensive upside, but he makes up for it on the other end of the floor.
Next: Boston Celtics