4 ways Kent Bazemore improves the Portland Trail Blazers
By Ty Delbridge
1. 3-point shooting
One of the most significant needs for the Blazers this offseason was to add more 3-point shooters on the wing. They have some snipers in Lillard and McCollum, but after that, they don’t really have anyone who can make it consistently. Adding Bazemore — a career 35 percent 3-point shooter — is a considerable upgrade over Turner, who is a poor shooter.
That was the biggest problem for Turner’s fit in Portland, because teams would sag off him when he was out on the 3-point line, and that would make life harder for everyone else on offense. Turner needs the ball in the mid-range or close to the hoop to make an impact.
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Bazemore’s willingness and ability to shoot and make the 3-ball is going to be a breath of fresh air for Terry Stotts and his coaching staff. He can shoot it from spot-ups, catch-and-shoots and even off the dribble. Unlike Turner, Bazemore can confidently hit a step-back 3-point shot. His presence on the floor will open up the Portland offense a lot more.
In his five seasons in Atlanta, Bazemore took a total of 1,277 3-point shots and made a total 453 of them (35.5 percent). For his entire career, Turner has taken a total of 912 3-point shots and has made just 270 of them (29.6 percent).
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Turner does not look or want to shoot it from deep and doesn’t often make it when he does pull it. Kent Bazemore looks and wants to shoot the 3-point shot, and can make it. Even if for some reason he doesn’t bring much else to the organization, having 3-point shooters is critical in today’s NBA, and the Blazers just got better in that area.