Summer League Surprise Kent Bazemore Earns Contract with Warriors
By Marcus Thompson
Tuesday, July 24th, 2012 at 10:24 am in Uncategorized.
If you watched the last three games of the Warriors’ summer league, you probably noticed guard Kent Bazemore. He was all over the place on defense (one game registering 7 blocks), he has a nice slingshot left jumper and he can handle the ball a little bit.
He was good enough to get a two-year deal from the Warriors.
Bazemore – a 6-foot-5, 195-pound swingman out of Old Dominion – played his way onto the Warriors roster. According to sources, he’s on the verge of signing a two-year, partially guaranteed deal for the league minimum. HoopsHype first reported the deal. To be sure, his deal has a “very low” guarantee, one source said, which means if the Warriors decide to cut Bazemore it won’t cost them very much. But here is how you know how well Bazemore played: the Warriors signed him despite not really having a place to play.
They already have Klay Thompson and Brandon Rush (assuming he re-signs) as shooting guards. Both Jarrett Jack and Stephen Curry are also expected to get some time at shooting guard. But the Warriors still felt like they may have found something in Bazemore. Warriors general manager Bob Myers and his staff have been collecting assets and talent all summer, regardless of position. This is another such acquisition.
“Guys like that, they make it impossible not to keep him,” Myers said of Bazemore in a phone interview Monday. “You can’t cut him, for whatever reason. He falls into the category of a guy who you just want to keep around.”
It may be a bit of a surprise that Bazemore chose the Warriors. No doubt, several teams saw the way Bazemore performed in summer league. You’d figure a team with more opportunity for him might be more appealing. But Golden State’s summer league squad had quite the camaraderie. And Bazemore, after Klay Thompson sat down following the first two games, was a big part of it. He stood out in practice, and when he got into the games he really produced.
Of course, the Warriors are more impressed by his defense. He’s long and pretty agile. But his activity level on that end is so high. And you can tell by his timing, his spacing, that he has good instincts on that end. Golden State has two potent offensive forces starting in the backcourt. If Bazemore makes the team, he and Jack could give the Warriors two potent defensive forces coming off the bench.
“He just played winning basketball,” Myers said. “He made little plays. He got stops. Rebounded. Blocked shots. All those things.”
The signing of Bazemore won’t impact the Warriors’ ability to sign re-sign swingman Brandon Rush AND sign one more free agent.
Golden State is still waiting to sign second-round pick Draymond Green, who’s been guaranteed a roster spot. He’ll come after they sign their last free agent and he may take up part of the mid-level exception.
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July 24th, 2012 at 10:42 am
It will be interesting to see whether Jenkins or Bazemore makes the 13-man roster. I don’t think both can, if we sign another PF.
July 24th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Sounds like, “Bye bye DMac”
July 24th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Probably more of an impact on McGuire than Rush. There was on outcome where we sign a cheap vet PF like S. Williams (who I dont’ like) and also keep McGuire. I think that is gone. Bazemore also could fill McGuires defensive stopper roll at least on PG and smaller wings.
If nothing else, what a great practice player to have on your roster. Would really push Klay, for example.
July 24th, 2012 at 10:55 am
Nice! this kid really hustles. Bazemore pretty much can replace Rush at a much more affordable price tag. Maybe Rush can go to the Bulls and have an impact now that Ronnie Brewer is a Knick.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:06 am
Sounds a bit like Kelenna without the jumper. I still think the Ws keep Rush, but maybe not.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:09 am
GO AHEAD WITH YOUR BADSELF MYERS, KEEP IMPRESSING US, YOU JUST MADE THE RIGHT MOVE, YOU NEED SOME KOBES,LEBRONS,(WHO SAYS IT COULDN’T BE SO?) STOPPERS.
THIS GUY IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED! GREAT MOVE MYERS.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:19 am
RUSH IS NON NEGOTIABLE FOR US, RUSH STAYING PUT, NO BRAINER, RUSH IS SOLID, HE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
WE ARE JUST WAITING TO SIGN THAT BACK UP PF (IN THE LIKES OF PREFERRABLY AK-47, IF NOT LANDRY) TO ROUND OUT ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES, WHICH ARE RUSH, GREEN, MAYBE MCGUIRE AND WHOEVER ELSE SURPRISE US LIKE BAZEMORE.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:21 am
I know you all have been patiently waiting for me to weigh in on the signing of Blazemore. You know I spend considerable time researching every subject and calling on my vast inside sources to get all the facts before I opine.
Bottomline is we improved our clubbing cred immensely by the signing. I can see him and Jeremy creating a scene similar to South Beach in our Emeryville Chevy’s or PF Changs. The scene just got tighter and we are quickly becoming a FA destination! Who needs warm weather when you can tour Alcatraz and feed the deer on Angel Island!
July 24th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Hey wait a minute, how about Burrell? that guy was solid.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:23 am
I was in las vegas this past weekend and saw him play – he is a legit NBA player. Very long wingspan, decent handles, and just great timing defensively. He is more of a slasher than a shooter but I think he can develop to become a solid shooter. While his numbers might not jump off the table, he was the guy I was most impressed with and I’m bummed the clippers didn’t get him. Smart move by warriors.
July 24th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Some good analyis here by Joe Kaiser (ESPN rumors)on indirect impact of ths signing:
“Just speculating here, but Bazemore’s signing may simply be the Warriors’ securing a backup plan in the event that Rush signs a lucrative offer sheet elsewhere. This way, the Warriors won’t feel that they absolutely have to match any deal. Also, this could be a shift away from Rush, which in theory would free up the cash necessary to give coveted forward Carl Landry the type of contract he seeks.”
July 24th, 2012 at 11:40 am
YOU HEARD IT!!!
IN A DAY OR TWO WE ARE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT AK-47 SIGNING WITH US.
RIGHT MYERS?
July 24th, 2012 at 11:53 am
THANKS WIL!!!
July 24th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
good signing.. BUT ONLY if
1. we resign rush
2. we sign landry or kmart
3. we resign mcguire
July 24th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
I think we just lost Mcguire… =(
July 24th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Agreed. Bazemore’s cannot be cut. I dont care if its Rush, Thompson or Curry. Bazemore cannot be one of them. He is an incredibly physically gifted defensive talent. His wing span has got to be proportional to Anthony Davis. And like Anthony Davis, he knows how to use it! This guy is what I call instant defense. Bazemore is much more difficult to find than Rush, Thompson or Curry. I’m sure West agrees with me. Give Bazemore 3 years to learn how to shoot and he might be useful on offense, too.
July 24th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Myers was quoted as saying:
===
“Guys like that, they make it impossible not to keep him,” Myers said of Bazemore in a phone interview Monday. “You can’t cut him, for whatever reason.
===
Myer gets it. I think the days of Cohan and his numbskulls talent blind regime are officially over. Myer knows what he sees and is aggressive on what he wants. Gotta love Myers. I was worried that the Warriors would not see the superstar potential in Bazemore.
July 24th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
I have to ditto #13
July 24th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
I like what #9 posted…
What is the better duo to have:
1. Bazemore and AK-47
or
2. Rush and (Landry/K-mart)
Bazemore signing could make Rush expendable which frees up money to sign AK-47, and possibly McGuire???
July 24th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Bazemore, looked a lot like a young Latrell Sprewell on the the court. Good teams have role players, Bazemore fits the mold. McGuire may be gone, but for all this conversation,he could stay and Jeremy Tyler could be gone. McGuire plays defense and proved he could guard 4 positions on the floor.
A second unit must be flexible based on that nights match ups. At this stage McGuire does this and Tyler doesn’t, it about what the managements priority is, today or future? There is also a price tag either way.
July 24th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Justin Burrell would fit in better as backup PF than Tyler.
July 24th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
FYI:
“Justin Burrell is impressing many NBA scouts,” a bj-league source said. “I spoke with a scout for one NBA playoff team who really likes him, and has him on their team’s short list of guys to bring in to camp, in case Golden State chooses not to.”
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sk20120720n1.html
July 24th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Curry and Thompson are great scorers but are definitely lacking on the defensive side at our guard positions. I thought it was crucial for GSW to get a defensive guard to come in during crunch time as a defensive stopper. This might be the diamond in the rough we’ve been looking for!
July 24th, 2012 at 11:22 pm
This guy is gonna shock da nba world. He should have at least went in the second round and now he is hungry. Remember a good defense leads to great offense and this guy’s defense has a high motor and has two speeds fast and faster. Kent bazemore is the real deal.
July 25th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
I was in LV to see W’s play Heat. Justin Burrell is a grown up, physical specimen, interior defender, rebounder, in right place at right time, opportunity scorer, team player. Really surprised no mention of signing him or inviting him to camp. If not, W’s will be sorry. Another J. Lin on their record of “got aways.”
July 25th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
In the past Nelson, smart, and jackson last year put in a more defensive 5 and managed too get back into the game by the middle of the fourth quarter. With Jack, Basemore as guards, with Rush and Mcguire as forwards and Bogut or Ezeli at center. Warriors will have a very good defense without losing total offense. The energy from Basemore and Mcguire will be hard too handle for the other team!
July 26th, 2012 at 2:07 am
Kirilenko going to the Wolves for 10 mil per for two years? Three team trade facilitating acquisition.
The W’s didn’t have a chance. The Biedrins (less than) amnesty transaction haunts the W’s one more time.
I preferred Luis Scola, however. A true power forweard with attitude. Kirilenko is more of a three 7 a finesse 4. Plus he would never deliver on the promise of his contract. He is prepetually injury prone. I like his game but don’t the W’s already have a couple of question marks in the starting lineup?
Looks like Carl Landry & the W’s might be a arranged wedding. Nobody else seemingly has cap space or the need for an offensive minded 4. Prety much have to be an enforcer type in that role.
to me KMart has way too much ‘tude. And a bad one for the relatively young W’s. . .
July 27th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Good move, this guys is a great guy! has a high IQ and wants to get better, and wants to win! He can defend of course, but he can score as well!
August 17th, 2012 at 1:15 am
Here in ODU-land we KNOW Bazemore is the real deal. Incredible energy, fearless, a real leader on and off the court. Coach Taylor teaches his guys character, versatility, and patience, with a strong emphasis on defense. Kent plays five inches over his posted height in the paint and has a confident jumper inside and outside the 3-pt line.
Wait ’til you get into his personal story — true Horatio Alger material.