Fansided

15 NBA players certain to be overpaid in free agency

By Brad Rowland

Mar 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) controls the ball while Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) controls the ball while Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 22: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks and Mike Muscala #31 grab a rebound during the first quarter of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 22, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 22: Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks and Mike Muscala #31 grab a rebound during the first quarter of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 22, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

13. Kent Bazemore

The comparisons between Kent Bazemore and DeMarre Carroll have been churning for months, but that doesn’t mean they don’t hold merit. A deep dive into each player would unveil that Bazemore and Carroll have different strengths and weaknesses as players, but both came from the Atlanta Hawks and they face very similar free agent conundrums.

Just as Carroll did, Bazemore signed a (very) cheap two-year contract with the Hawks, and that keeps him from hitting the market with full bird rights. That matters only to Atlanta when it comes to salary cap mechanics, but Bazemore outperformed his contract drastically in his first full season as a starter in 2015-2016, and Atlanta’s player development factory performed a miracle when it comes to Bazemore’s market value.

Bazemore will turn 27 on July 1, leaving a few more seasons of presumptive “peak” athletic performance. More than that, though, the former Old Dominion standout produced easily the best season of his career at an opportune time, knocking down 36% of his threes on real volume (4.1 per game) and providing solid defense and important energy for the Hawks.

The jury remains out on whether this season is sustainable for Bazemore long-term, especially when it comes to that three-point shooting, but he timed his breakout perfectly. The market for “3-and-D” wings is out of control, and Bazemore fits the bill beautifully as a player that an unsuspecting team will pay a premium for in July.

Next: 12. Bradley Beal

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