Golden State Warriors should pursue Kent Bazemore in free agency

Seeking out a potential reunion with upcoming free agent Kent Bazemore this offseason might be a great move for the Golden State Warriors.

We have talked in great detail for the last few months about the Golden State Warriors‘ need for a veteran wing player to fill in a role on their bench. Kent Bazemore could potentially be a solid fit here for the franchise.

Bazemore began his career in Golden State – playing just a few minutes with the second unit in the 2012-13 NBA season before being traded to Los Angeles in exchange for Steve Blake. Since then, Bazemore has played stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

He had his most efficient years in Atlanta, averaging 12.9 points as a combo guard who could score and defend the perimeter. This earned him a four-year $70 million dollar contract – which is set to expire in the offseason and make him an unrestricted free agent.

Bazemore would have to accept a big pay cut from his previous contract, likely signing for the Warriors’ $6 million dollar MLE or $2 million veteran minimum. However, this should be a real possibility as Bazemore’s recent run with the Blazers wasn’t all that convincing. He failed to consistently produce a positive impact and was traded at the deadline.

In Golden State, Bazemore would be in a more comfortable role. They wouldn’t need him to shoulder much weight or responsibility. All he would be asked to do is provide quality minutes with the second unit and act as a veteran leader. If he is able to do these things, he would succeed with the Warriors.

Bazemore is averaging 10.0 points on nearly 40 percent shooting in the Orlando bubble. His 3-point shooting is still above league average while he is capable of being an adequate defender. These are two things that should make Bazemore an interesting free agency target for the Dubs.