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Portland Trail Blazers trade Evan Turner to the Atlanta Hawks

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 29: Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during the game against Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks on March 29, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jasear Thompson/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 29: Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during the game against Kent Bazemore #24 of the Atlanta Hawks on March 29, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jasear Thompson/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Portland Trail Blazers have traded veteran Evan Turner to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for a boost on the offensive end in Kent Bazemore.

It is happening folks. Neil Olshey and the Portland Trail Blazers are making moves.

The 2019 offseason is projected to be big for the Blazers, who are looking to build upon an appearance in the Western Conference Finals. Due to the team’s cap situation, the only realistic way to make tangible improvements is through trades. And the first one has been completed.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski announced that the Portland Trail Blazers are trading Evan Turner to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kent Bazemore.

Since signing a much maligned 4 year, $70 million contract with the Blazers in 2016, Turner has not fit the team as well as Olshey had originally planned. While he did succeed in putting Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in more off-ball situations by taking over secondary point guard duties and therefore reducing their workload, his lack of shooting made it tough.

When combined with the lack of other consistent wing shooting on the team, Turner’s defense and creation/playmaking abilities were just not enough to offset this glaring skill. It just wasn’t that defenses dared Turner to beat them, like they did for the other Portland forwards, he was a complete liability from beyond the arc, shooting 26.4% from deep during his time in Portland.

Despite his flaws on court, he was a great person and teammate. Many Blazers called Turner the funniest guy on the team. His tweet when he found out he was getting traded essentially sums up his personality.

Turner constantly showed kindness and care to everyone in the organization, especially his rookies. With Atlanta as one of the youngest teams in the NBA, Turner will be able to provide solid veteran leadership to young wings Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish, and DeAndre Hunter. Just look at the kind words of now former teammate Meyers Leonard’s tweet of thanks after hearing of the trade.

While Bazemore has the exact same contract (in terms of year signed, length, and total money) as Turner, he is a much better fit for Portland. While not as versatile as Turner defensively, he is still a solid defender who should provide support for the Blazers backcourt.

The thing that should separate him from Turner in terms of fit is his shooting ability. Bazemore is a career 35.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc, and those numbers are bogged down from a tough shooting season last year.  In Portland, he gets a chance to have more playing time, as Atlanta is now focused on developing their new young wings.

Thanks for memories ET and welcome to Rip City Kent Bazemore!