‘WING’ & A PRAYER
Knicks eye Hawks guard, but likely won’t have the cash
The Knicks have heavy interest in Hawks 6-foot-5 shooting guard Kent Bazemore, but they may be priced out or simply shut out, according to NBA sources.
Between a starting center and shooting guard, Knicks pre s i dent Phi l Ja ck s on has to craftily split his $29 million-plus of cap space. That figure accounts for cap holds on four of his own free agents (Derrick Williams, Kevin Seraphin, Lance Thomas, Langston Galloway).
Bazemore is high on the Knicks’ list for a shooting guard, but they know resources aren’t unlimited if they want to sign their own free agents to pacts that will allow them to go over the salary cap.
Bazemore is not setting up any meetings with teams until the Hawks make their intentions clear whether they will go for his large asking price. Meanwhile, a report Tuesday night stated Miami shooting guard — and friend of Carmelo Anthony — Dwyane Wade, 34, who had been considered a shoo-in to re-sign with the Heat, is supposedly open to offers after early talks didn’t go well.
According to an NBA source, Bazemore is “not ruling the Kni ck s o ut because he f ills a need for them at the wing.” But the source isn’t sure if the Knicks will come into play. Bazemore’s intention is to stay in Atlanta. But if it doesn’t work out, Bazemore will have a bevy of suitors, including New Orleans and the Knicks.
Atlanta would have to use its precious cap space to resign Bazemore. The Hawks’ only other option is using the early Bird exception on Bazemore, but that pact would start at $6 million.
Bazemore is expected to seek more than double that — a pact starting at at least $16 million. That’s more than the player he replaced in t he st a r t i ng l i neup, DeMarre Carroll (4 years, $60 million last summer). The Hawks could afford it with their cap space, but reportedly are now trying to get in on Kevin Durant.
Getting a contract starting at more than $16 million is quite the haul for the undrafted former Old Dominion standout who blossomed for the Hawks this season as he completed his two-year, $4 million pact. He averaged 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists this season.
The Knicks view him as a badly needed defensive stopper in the backcourt to team with point guard Derrick Rose, whose defense is suspect.
Bazemore wil l li ke ly become the poster child for the obscene rise in salaries pushed by the unprecedented increase in the cap ($70 million to $92 million).
One of the coveted, newage “3 and D’’ guys, Bazemore is very athletic, only 27 years old and a better shooter than the two freeagent Evans — Evan Turner and Evan Fournier, who is restricted.
But Bazemore also has benefitted from being on a deep Hawks’ squad. Consider the first two seasons of his career, in 2012-13 and 2013-14, he shuttled back and forth from the D-League s eve n t i mes — between Golden State and Santa Cruz.
If Atlanta gets its man, the Knicks may go for the more realistic and cheaper option in ex-Net Courtney Lee, the 30-yearold shooting guard who keeps improving gradually, and spend most of their cap room on a center.
In an even more economical move, the Knicks have veteran sharpshooter Kevin Martin on their radar. But some in the league feel the Knicks are better off spending more on a shooting guard than a center.
It’s all a juggling act for Jackson, who has not yet secured a meeting with Durant, the NBA’ s No. 1 free agent. He also doesn’t have a meeting with Bazemore, who is attractive because he’s an unrestricted free agent, unlike restricted free agent Bradley Beal, for whom Washington can match any offer.