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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
Dec 21, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looses the ball as Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) defends during the second half at Philips Arena. The Timberwolves defeated the Hawks 92-84. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Atlanta Hawks need backcourt and wing help, and the Minnesota Timberwolves need some veteran leadership for the youngsters. This deal, unlikely as it might seem, accomplishes both.

The Hawks get a starting-caliber point guard in Ricky Rubio, who would likely come off the bench behind the blossoming Dennis Schroder. That would give them one of the best backup 1s in the NBA, while Shabazz Muhammad‘s scoring and youth would be a welcome addition to the second unit.

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Though the Wolves already have Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng in the frontcourt, Paul Millsap would set a terrific example for the youngsters and automatically make this team more of a threat to make the playoffs. Maybe not this season, but certainly next year if they could re-sign him.

Tom Thibodeau has never been one for patience, so although he wouldn’t be giving up much of the team’s young core to facilitate the deal, he’d be leaping right into more of a win-now move.

Unfortunately, there’d be definite drawbacks to a deal like this, the most noticeable of which is downgrading from Rubio at the point to Kris Dunn, an unprepared rookie who has largely failed to impress thus far.

Getting Millsap for Rubio and Muhammad is a tremendous deal in and of itself, but would Thibs and the prospect of a bright future be enough to keep Millsap in Minnesota for the extended future? And would the return of two backups be enough for Atlanta? It’s difficult to say.

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