Coming off consecutive winning seasons, the Atlanta Hawks are hoping to keep the core of their team intact, and they've reportedly taken another step toward doing so with the signing of Kent Bazemore.

Continue for updates.

Bazemore Reportedly Agrees to Deal with Hawks

Friday, July 1

According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Bazemore and the Hawks have agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract.

On June 28, Marc Stein of ESPN reported that Bazemore and Al Horford were the Hawks' "free-agent priorities" this summer. 

Bazemore's Estimated Price Tag Revealed 

Thursday, June 30 

Teams believe it may require $19 million to $20 million to sign Bazemore, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Bazemore Meets with Rockets

Thursday, June 30

Shams Charania of The Vertical reported Bazemore met with the Houston Rockets at the start of free agency, though he had planned to hold off on meeting with teams until July 5. According to Charania, Rockets star James Harden attended the meeting.

Multiple Teams Targeting Bazemore 

Wednesday, June 29

Lowe reported the Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets are among Bazemore's suitors, according to sources.

Bazemore Linked to Knicks

Wednesday, June 29

The New York Post's Marc Berman, citing an NBA source, reported Tuesday that the New York Knicks have "heavy interest" in Bazemore, but "they may be priced out or simply shut out." Berman continued:

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.

[...]

According to an NBA source, Bazemore is “not ruling the Knicks out because he fills 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.

Bazemore Developed into Dependable Role Player

Bazemore has found an excellent role with the Hawks and knows head coach Mike Budenholzer's system. He averaged a career-high 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 75 games last season. 

The 26-year-old Bazemore also came into his own in 2015-16, starting 68 games and more than doubling his previous career-high with 4.1 win shares, per Basketball-Reference.com. 

The Hawks have been a solid playoff contender in the Eastern Conference with nine straight postseason appearances. They have only moved beyond the Eastern Conference Semifinals once during that span, so some changes must be made to the roster if they want to get over the hump. 

But there is a lot to be said for maintaining some semblance of stability on a team that's won 108 combined games the last two seasons. Bazemore doesn't push the Hawks over the top, but he's become one of their most valuable players in his two seasons with the team.