Report: Kent Bazemore has drawn interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers

Per David Aldridge at NBA.com, the Cavaliers have put in some calls to Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk about Kent Bazemore:

The Cavs have also asked about Atlanta’s Kent Bazemore, according to league sources. Bazemore is no lockdown wing, but he does give effort, and he is shooting a career-best 37.6 percent this season on 3-pointers. Bazemore has more than $37 million coming to him through 2020 on his current deal, though.

The Cavaliers and Hawks are no strangers to the trade market, as they struck a deal for Kyle Korver around this time last year that brought a first-round pick to Atlanta. Once again, Cleveland may look to the Hawks for some help on the wing, though this one would certainly be a move focused on the defensive end of the floor, where the Cavaliers struggle mightily.

Aldridge mentions it in his article, but Bazemore’s contract will be an impediment to getting a deal done. The Cavaliers are well over the tax and therefore cannot take in Bazemore’s salary without sending out at least $13.4 million in 2017-18 salary. Tristan Thompson would fit in a deal nicely but would require another asset sent with him to Atlanta, as would guys like J.R. Smith or Iman Shumpert. Cleveland already owes their first-round pick in 2019 to Atlanta from the Korver trade, but possesses all their other first-rounders.

There are no reports as to what the Hawks may want in return for Bazemore, who has had a good season despite Atlanta’s dismal record.