We knew the Atlanta Hawks tried trading Paul Millsap to make room for an Al Horford-Dwight Howard frontcourt.
We just didn’t know how serious they were about such a venture.
Until now.
From ESPN.com’s Zach Lowe:
That ballpark $9 million-per-year difference between the starting salaries of Horford and Millsap on their next respective contracts largely explains why the Hawks had chosen Horford by the end — and why Boston had no misgivings throwing a four-year max at him. Trading Millsap would net the Hawks some building blocks and free them from the dilemma of paying his super-max deal.
They talked about Paul Millsap trades with Phoenix, Denver, Toronto and Houston; the Nuggets were ready to flip a players-and-picks package headlined by Kenneth Faried, according to several sources familiar with the matter.
These rumors could be moot now that Horford is with the Boston Celtics. Howard and Millsap still project as the Eastern Conference’s best defensive frontcourt, and Millsap will be incredibly important to whatever the Hawks wish to do offensively—especially with Dennis Schroder taking over for Jeff Teague at point guard.
But, like Lowe would note, Millsap now knows the Hawks tried to trade him. He’s also a free after next season. The Hawks won’t want to lose him for nothing like they did Horford.
Expect the Paul Millsap rumor mill to linger through the offseason, only to pick up serious steam ahead of the trade deadline, when the Hawks know they aren’t championship contenders. After all, they cannot afford to lose another All-Star for nothing—particularly when, in this case, said All-Star feels like a lock to leave.
