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5 NBA Teams Approaching Critical 2017 Playoff Runs

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) grabs a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) grabs a rebound in front of Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 4, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) reacts against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Atlanta Hawks

Remember when everyone expected the Atlanta Hawks to be sellers at the 2017 NBA Trade Deadline after trading Kyle Korver? And then remember when the Hawks not only refused to trade Paul Millsap, but actually entered the deadline as buyers?

Yeah, we’re thinking the front office is going to come to regret that decision for a long time.

Look, we understand that signing Dwight Howard to a three-year deal was a win-now move. But even with the strides Dennis Schroder has made this year, the Hawks top off in that same “good but not great” territory they’ve been stuck in every season for the last decade (except that 60-win campaign in 2014-15).

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    • Atlanta doesn’t look like a second round playoff team, let alone a serious threat to the Cavaliers — you know, the same team that’s bounced them from the playoffs in a combined eight games over the last two seasons, and the same team that Korver was traded to. Why give Cleveland a sharpshooter that makes them even stronger if the plan wasn’t to rebuild?

    The Hawks have gone 1-8 in nine games without Millsap this season, which speaks to his value for this group. However, as he approaches unrestricted free agency this summer, it’s going to take a massive offer to keep him stuck in this NBA no man’s land of being good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to actually contend for a title.

    That being said, the kind of contract it’ll take to prevent him from joining another contender runs the risk of drastically overpaying for a 32-year-old who just had a non-surgical knee procedure and whose game is only going to go downhill from here.

    To that end, the Hawks need to put together a playoff run to at least the second round to convince Millsap to stay over the summer. Atlanta is currently pitted against Toronto in a first round 4-5 matchup, but the Milwaukee Bucks have the same record and could drop the Hawks to sixth if they wind up with a better record. That’s a distinct possibility if Millsap isn’t back soon.

    There’s something to be said for sustained success, and there’s no question re-signing Millsap would help the Hawks keep that going. The only question is whether this core is worth re-investing in when we already know what the ceiling looks like.

    At this point, a first round exit and letting Millsap walk might actually be better for the Hawks in the long-term compared to overpaying for an aging, depreciating asset.