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Paul Millsap Trade Rumors: 10 NBA Teams That Should Trade For Him

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots from the foul line during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Atlanta Hawks won 104-72. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots from the foul line during the third quarter of the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Atlanta Hawks won 104-72. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paul Millsap trade rumors
Apr 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) collide as they go for the ball during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Suns 103-90. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Phoenix Suns

Like the Lakers, the Phoenix Suns are a team that really needs to stick with its current youth movement and err on the side of patience. They amassed the worst record in the West mostly by riding their veteran starters early on, and head coach Earl Watson is only now committing to finding ample minutes for the youngsters.

However, the Suns definitely need to consider dealing some of their older veterans. Playoff teams could use players like P.J. Tucker, Tyson Chandler, Brandon Knight and even Eric Bledsoe, and general manager Ryan McDonough would be wise to put out feelers on all of them.

The future belongs to 20-year-old Devin Booker, 19-year-old Dragan Bender, 19-year-old Marquese Chriss, 20-year-old Tyler Ulis and 23-year-old T.J. Warren. Tucker (31), Chandler (34), Bledsoe (27) and even Knight (25) are not on the same timeline.

The Suns should concentrate on dealing those useful vets for future draft picks and young talent, but they also need current talent and veteran leadership to make sure this team isn’t completely unbearable to watch. Enter Millsap, who would have quite a lot to teach Chriss and Bender in the frontcourt.

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    • Assuming Phoenix also managed to trade Chandler to clear out frontcourt minutes, Millsap’s arrival wouldn’t hold back Bender, who could play the 5 behind Alex Len or at least man more minutes at the 3 with Tucker’s departure. Chriss, meanwhile, could play behind Millsap in the bench role he’s more suited for at this point.

    As for Atlanta, they’d be bolstering a wing rotation in desperate need of bolstering. Tucker already gives 120 percent for a bottom feeder team; the prospect of what he’d do for a playoff team is tantalizing.

    Knight has struggled in his sixth man role, but Phoenix has just been a terrible fit. It wasn’t long ago he had a career year with the Milwaukee Bucks, and perhaps a change of scenery is just what he needs. The Hawks desperately need backcourt help, with their current backup point guard being Malcolm Delaney.

    However, the Suns might have a hard time re-signing Paul Millsap in free agency, even with his Bird Rights, and if they can’t deal Chandler, they’d have a very crowded and old frontcourt rotation.

    The Hawks also might not want to trade for Knight, who owns the league’s absolute worst total point differential out of 446 players, since they’d face the same problem Phoenix has: Two starting-caliber point guards who both believe they should be starting. A return of Knight and Tucker just might not be enough to get a deal done, and a pick would probably have to be included.

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