Remember Kent Bazemore? Recently, TMZ reporters asked Bazemore about His offseason plans, and he said publicly in an interview: "I want to go back to the Lakers!" There's no better option than being a Lakers player! Last season I saw Kobe Bryant numbers on the wall every day when I was training, which was the biggest encouragement for me! ”
Bazemore should be the first Lakers player to publicly say that he will stay with the team when his contract expires. In addition, Bazemore also supported James in the interview: "Averaging the top three points per game in the league, what do you want him to do?" James has paid a lot for this team, for us as players. He deserves more respect! ”
In the 2021 offseason, Bazemore joined the Lakers for $2.4 million in one year. At that time, the Warriors offered him a higher offer than the Lakers, and it was still a multi-year contract. But Bazemore believed that the Lakers had a better chance of winning the championship, and the Lakers management promised him playing time and team roles, and finally Bazemore accepted the Lakers' basic salary.
At the start of the season, Bazmore was given a starting spot, averaging 26.4 minutes in his first 10 games. Unfortunately, he averaged only 6.5 points per game in these 10 games, and Bazmore was gradually abandoned, and by February this year, he could only play in garbage time. He scored in double figures in only four games throughout the season, completely marginalized.
Bazemore has played 39 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 13.9 minutes per game, with 3.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.6 steals. He shot just 32.4 percent from the field, a career low, shooting 36.2 percent from three-point range and 76.5 percent from the free throws. Although Bazemore said that he wanted to stay in the team, this performance was really difficult to impress the Lakers.
In 2020-21, he played in 67 games for the Warriors, averaging 19.9 minutes per game, 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1 steal, shooting 44.9% from the field and 40.8% from three-point range. I don't know if Bazmore has regrets, he didn't renew his contract with the Warriors last offseason...
For the last two seasons, Bazmore has been on a basic salary contract, in fact, he was born in July 1989 and is not yet 33 years old. Why is Bazmore a "32-year-old"? Because there are 6 players in the Lakers who are older than him. Before getting the base salary, Bazemore's contract was $70 million for 4 years, which was too big a gap.
Bazemore was a 2012 draft winner who spent the first two seasons of his career with the Warriors and briefly played for the Lakers in 2013-14. Bazemore's peak was during the Eagles, averaging 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game in 2015-16, shooting 44.1% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.
How much do you think such data is worth? The summer of 2016 was just too crazy, with the Eagles renewing their contract with Bazmore for four years and $70 million, which expires in the summer of 2020. In 2017-18, Bazmore averaged a career-high 12.9 points per game, plus 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals, shooting 42 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range.
If you think about it, compared to Ruhr Dun's 4-year 72 million, Bazemore is not a garbage contract! Final question: Do you think the Lakers will sign Bazemore again?