Atlanta Hawks: 5 reasons Paul Millsap shouldn’t be re-signed

3. Hawks already explored a sign-and-trade

Numerous teams could benefit from adding Paul Millsap to their lineup this summer and the Atlanta Hawks have reportedly considered helping them, for a price.

Atlanta is the only organization capable of signing Millsap to a five-year contract with more than $200 million guaranteed, but the team has the ability to sign him to a four-year max deal worth what other suitors could offer in free agency and then send him to another team in a sign-and-trade.

By doing so, the Hawks could land some promising pieces in return.

Many franchises have struggled to land top-tier players in free agency, but believe adding a veteran player to a roster filled with young prospects could be enough to make a playoff push.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has reported that Atlanta has put out feelers for Millsap sign-and-trade options, with Sacramento, Phoenix and Denver potentially being interested.

Millsap was placed on the trading block early into the 2016-17 season, only the Hawks front office received backlash from teammates and coach Mike Budenholzer.

With a regime change in Atlanta’s front office, the likelihood of Millsap being dealt, instead of losing him for nothing in free agency, continues to rise.