The Hawks, as of now, have not reached out to Kent Bazemore for preliminary talks regarding a new contract, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Bazemore is entering the final season of a two-year contract he signed before last season. He will make $2 million this year and must become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Bazemore cannot sign a contract extension during the season, having signed with the Hawks for less than four seasons. Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll both had to go to free agency this summer after their two-year deals expired. Millsap re-signed with the Hawks and Carroll signed with the Raptors.
Both sides would be open to re-signing the guard/forward to a new deal, according to several people familiar with the situation.
Bazemore. 25, appeared in 75 games last season. He averaged 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.1 minutes. Bazemore played an increasing role at guard and forward down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs with the injuries to Thabo Sefolosha and Kyle Korver.
Bazemore spoke on his pending free agency during media day Monday saying “I’ve come to love Atlanta,” he said. “Of the whole summer, I was probably only gone two weeks. I’ve spent a lot of time here. I just moved into a new house. I’m renting it. Maybe I can buy it next year.”
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