Atlanta Hawks: Grading The Offseason
Making Millsap Whole
Coming off a 60-win season, it’s no surprise that this team’s top offseason priority was retaining (arguably) their best player in Paul Millsap. With a three-year, $59 million contract extension, the Hawks did exactly that.
Last season, Millsap led the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 35.6 percent from three-point territory. Though he’s 30 years old, this is a market-appropriate deal for a player so intrinsic to the team’s identity, especially since Atlanta enjoyed his services at such a discounted price over the last two years.
Paul Millsap on why picked Hawks over Magic: "I felt like Atlanta was home and Atlanta was the better fit. That’s what it came down to."
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) July 9, 2015
From his rebounding to his inside-outside game to his addition of a reliable three-point shot to his passing abilities, Millsap was the reason Mike Budenholzer’s offensive sets were so effective. A veteran stretch-4 like this was what helped make Atlanta’s offense so multi-dimensional.
The Hawks couldn’t afford to lose both of their prized free agents this summer, so it makes sense that after DeMarre Carroll accepted Toronto’s Godfather offer, the Hawks ponied up to keep Millsap around. Between Carroll and Millsap, Atlanta kept the more irreplaceable free agent.
Grade: A-
Next: Holiday In Atlanta