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NBA: Ranking The League’s Top 10 Power Forwards For 2016-17

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 31, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) is guarded by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half of a game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) is guarded by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half of a game at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 16, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. The Hawks won 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Paul Millsap

2015-16 Stats:  17.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.7 BPG, .470/.319/.757 shooting, 21.3 PER

The Atlanta Hawks could be due for some regression with Jeff Teague and Al Horford gone, but there’s no question that Paul Millsap is going to do everything in his power to make sure that doesn’t happen.

As the only player in the NBA to average at least 1.7 blocks and 1.7 steals per game last season, Millsap is one of the league’s most versatile defenders. He has the speed to stay with wings, the rim protection and strength to handle prototypical bigs, and he and Horford regularly trapped ball handlers in the pick-and-roll out on the perimeter.

He didn’t shoot the ball particularly well from three-point range last year, but this stretch-4 is intrinsic to what head coach Mike Budenholzer is trying to do on both ends of the floor. That won’t change with Dennis Schroder and Dwight Howard stepping in to fill some big shoes.

If the losses start piling up, the Hawks may consider a full-scale rebuild, which would start with trading Millsap. But in the event Atlanta exceeds expectations — or even if they don’t — make sure to remember that even at age 31, Millsap’s value will not go unnoticed.