Paul Millsap’s expected foray into free agency next summer may not actually take place.
Though, to be sure, it probably will.
Asked about his free-agency plans, around eight months in advance of any decision, the 31-year-old Paul Millsap gave no hint as to whether he’ll decline his $21.5 million player option for the 2017-18 campaign, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s Chris Vivlamore:
The three-time All-Star power forward has a player option for the 2017-18 season worth $21,472,407. It would seem likely that Millsap will opt out and become an unrestricted free agent based on an increase in the NBA salary cap. However, Millsap said he will see how this season plays out before making up his mind.
“I haven’t decided anything, no,” Millsap told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.
If Millsap does enter free agency, a source told Vivlamore that retaining him “is a priority” for the Hawks. We’ll see how much of a priority, of course, because Millsap is most definitely going to enter free agency. He turns 32 in February, making this his last opportunity to cash in on a max or near-max deal.
Unless Paul Millsap suffers a serious injury, waiting only stands to drive down his market value. The NBA salary cap is set to jump once more next summer, and Millsap has never been more highly regarded than he is now, as an all-everything scorer who routinely garners All-Defensive Team consideration, in addition to some light Defensive Player of the Year support.
Expect him, then, to test the open market in July 2017, irrespective of how Atlanta finishes out the year.
