Atlanta Hawks' Kent Bazemore (L) and Los Angeles Lakers' Nick Young. (Photo : Getty Images)
Rumors of a potential trade involving Atlanta Hawks' Kent Bazemore and Los Angeles Lakers' Nick Young has recently surfaced online as the former is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer after failing to secure a contract extension from his team.
The 26-year-old shooting guard is currently playing out of position in Atlanta as the team's starting small forward in replacement of DeMarre Carroll, who left for Toronto during the offseason.
Bleacher Report's Dan Favale noted that Bazemore is doing a great job playing that "three-and-D" role and that he is actually better at this point in the season compared to last year's Carroll.
In 12 games so far, Bazemore averages 12.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 29 minutes of play per night, which is hands-down quite impressive for a fifth option offensive weapon behind Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, and Paul Millsap.
Then why would Atlanta trade him then?
Because, as Favale observed, the Hawks are "about to run into the same issue with Bazemore that they did with Carroll" last offseason, which is the possibility of another team snagging him in free agency.
So instead of losing Bazemore for nothing next year, trading him in midseason makes so much sense.
RantSports suggested a trade including Lakers' mercurial scorer Young for Bazemore would be beneficial for both parties involved.
Young would be a solid addition to the Hawks at the no. 3 spot and should fit nicely to Mike Budenholzer's system that relies on outside shooting and ball movement.
Meanwhile, Bazemore could ease L.A.'s impending shooting guard woes as Kobe Bryant is expected to retire at the end of the season.
However, an ESPN Trade Machine simulation suggested that Hawks power forward Mike Scott will have to be included in the package for the deal to push through.
