Paul Millsap trade rumors have come to the forefront now that the Atlanta Hawks are reportedly open to a deal. Here are 10 teams — complete with trade scenarios — that should try to acquire him.
For years now, the Atlanta Hawks have been unable to nudge the needle from “perennial playoff team” and into “legitimate title contender.” LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have been their biggest obstacle in doing so, but after losing Al Horford and Jeff Teague over the summer, the Hawks are closer to rebuilding than contending.
With Paul Millsap able to opt out of the final year and $21.5 million of his contract this summer, the Hawks are in danger of losing their best player for nothing.
Because of this, and because of Atlanta’s middling 18-16 record that’s closer to 12th place in the East (3.0 games) than second place (5.5 games), it’s no surprise to hear the front office is fielding calls for him as Paul Millsap trade rumors run rampant.
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst, the Hawks are not openly pursuing a trade, but they are open to dealing Millsap, Kyle Korver and/or Thabo Sefolosha if the right deal comes around. They fear losing him for nothing in free agency, and with Millsap averaging 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game, his two-way value has never been more apparent.
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Millsap is 31 and could be heading for free agency this summer, which limits the number of teams who will be picking up the phone. But he’s one of the most underrated players in the league, and there are plenty of teams who would be interested in adding him — either as a veteran leader on a rebuilding team, or as the missing piece to turn a playoff team into a contender.
Whatever team trades for Millsap would acquire his Bird Rights, giving that team the chance to offer an extra year and way more money in free agency than any other outside suitor.
The question is, which teams should consider taking the plunge? And what kind of trade packages can the Hawks expect in return? Here’s a look at 10 teams that should trade for Paul Millsap, along with what those potential deals might look like.