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Guess who made the list of top 5 worst contracts at his position?
No. 5 Worst Small Forward: Kent Bazemore, Atlanta Hawks
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Age: 28
2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 11.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.7 blocks, 40.9 percent shooting
Remaining Contract Value: Three years, $54.3 million
Kent Bazemore's contract is entering dangerous territory.
Like anyone else who signed a massive deal in 2016, he's being judged against a completely different financial outlook. That shift in perception is problematic for just about everyone, but it's especially damning for those who are working off a decline.
Bazemore falls into that category of regressors. His efficiency plunged to rookie-year levels as he tried adjusting to a more expansive job description. Atlanta's thin supply of secondary creators necessitated more playmaking responsibilities, and Bazemore never looked comfortable. His per-possession assist rateimproved, but that uptick comes with an increase in volume. The Hawks came to favor Hardaway over him, and he was invariably pushed out of the starting lineup.
Banking on a resurgence in 2017-18 goes against the facts. Atlanta is down more playmakers after bidding farewell to Hardaway and Paul Millsap, and 28-year-olds aren't known for making gargantuan leaps six seasons into their career.
At the same time, Bazemore's contract is not a lost cause. He's almost everything teams look for in a complementary wing. He was more effective on offense when he didn't have the ball as much, and his defensive grit seldom suffered as a result of his warts at the other end.
Without a return to 2015-16 form, though, Bazemore is more roadblock than asset. The Hawks are rebuilding, and he runs counter to their new timeline. A trade feels inevitable, but they can't hope to get more than cap relief, if that, unless he recoups some of his squandered goodwill.