Atlanta Hawks: Post-Draft To Do List

2. Bring Back Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll

The Hawks are in the precarious position of being a couple of decline contracts away from taking a large step backward. Both DeMarre Carroll and Pual Millsap are unrestricted free agents, and both of them are extremely important to the well-being of the team.

Millsap averaged 16.7 points and 7.6 rebounds for Atlanta, earning him an All-Star spot last season. Millsap is a versatile player, who can score inside and outside and keep up with the passing and motion of Atlanta’s offense. Millsap is also an underrated defensive player. He’s not a great rim protector, but he’s a devoted defensive player who can play physical and use his hands to get steals and blocks.

Brain over brawn teams like Atlanta like versatile players, and Millsap is that. He can screen on the pick-and-roll. He can post up. He can hit spot up shots around the floor. He’s basically something of a safety valve for Atlanta’s offense. They can put Millsap in any offensive situation and know they’ll get a solid job.

Carroll is a solid 3-and D player who the Hawks desperately need to stop opposing superstars and help Atlanta spread the floor. Carroll is a gritty, blue collar player, and he fits well in the Hawks system. A high reliance on passing and little isolation allows Carroll to thrive in spot up shooting and defense.

Both of these players are very important to the Hawks success. In fact, depending on where you place Al Horford, they might be the Hawks two most important players. Retaining both of them at max price ($15 million for Carroll, $19 million for Millsap) is nearly impossible. If both will take a slightly reduced rate to keep the team together, the Hawks will be just as good if not better, as long as their biggest issue goes away

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