Paul Millsap opted out of the final year of his contract with the Atlanta Hawks to become a free agent this summer. Millsap’s decision was long expected given the fact that he could earn as much as $200 million in his next contract thanks to skyrocketing cap space. According to the Vertical's Shams Charania, the current turmoil in the Hawks front-office may dissuade Millsap to explore the possibility of playing elsewhere.
Details of Millsap free agency
Millsap, who averaged 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, is expected to draw interest from multiple teams.
The 32-year old veteran has been with the Hawks since 2013 and helped the team extend its playoff streak to ten consecutive years. While he hasn’t ruled out staying put in Atlanta for basically the remainder of his NBA career, Millsap could be tempted to join a team that gives him a better shot at winning his first NBA championship.
Then again, sticking with the Hawks has its own perks. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Millsap could earn a contract that pays him $205 million over five years (that’s a whopping $41 million a year) if he re-signs with the Hawks. On the other hand, he can still get $158 million over five years should he sign with another team.
Although the Hawks recently announced Travis Schlenk as their new general manager, Millsap and his agents are expected to negotiate directly with team owner Tony Ressler.
The Hawks ownership already made it clear that they want to keep their best player for more years to come, regardless of the cost of retaining him.
Potential suitors for Millsap
Chase Hughes of CSN Mid-Atlantic believes there will be plenty suitors for Millsap this summer. At this point of his career, the 11-year veteran proved that he’s more than capable of putting big numbers when needed.
Moreover, his ability to create mismatches at the power forward position makes an intriguing free-agency target for any team.
He fits in well in today’s NBA where a big man is required to stretch the defense with outside shooting and create scoring opportunities through pick-and-roll plays. In the later part of his career, Millsap has also improved his playmaking and on-ball defense as he was named to the second All-Defensive team last year.
According to Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors, the Celtics might explore the idea of pairing Millsap with his former Hawks teammate Al Horford once again. The Celtics are going to be a destination for any marquee free agents this summer because of their ability to pay max money and entice players with the competitive roster. The Toronto Raptors have also been mentioned as another suitor if Serge Ibaka bolts out, while the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and the Utah Jazz are the likely dark horses.
