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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
Nov 25, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Rodney Hood (5) defends against Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the first half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Utah Jazz

Your initial reaction to the Utah Jazz trading back for Paul Millsap might be “LOL,” but it would actually make some sense for both sides — especially if Derrick Favors continues to get so few touches on offense.

Utah’s young core has been tantalizing for years now, but it’s never been able to stay healthy long enough to put a legitimate playoff run together. In fact, 2016-17 will be the first time those youngsters have even tasted a playoff berth.

With Favors currently averaging just 8.4 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game, his reinsertion into Utah’s rotation has been slow-going. Perhaps it’s just Utah working him back from injury with extreme caution, but Millsap is the better player between the two.

He’s also six years older, sure, but Millsap might be the kick in the ass this team needs to start competing now, rather than carry on at its current pace of hoping this young nucleus eventually figures things out.

For Atlanta, they’d basically be getting a successor to Millsap, only six years younger. They’d have him through at least the 2017-18 season, and then they’d get to tackle his free agency head on. That’s pretty great value for the 31-year-old Millsap, especially as Favors gets healthier and starts putting up better numbers.

There’s one obvious non-starter here, however: the Jazz are already facing the problematic free agencies of Gordon Hayward and George Hill this summer. Adding Millsap and his free agency to the mix would be downright foolish, even if they’d have a good chance of convincing him to re-sign in the city where he spent the first seven seasons of his career.

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