The case AGAINST keeping Millsap

[MaceCase]

I'd prefer we ship him out west somewhere. I don't think we're going full rebuild if we pull the trigger on a Millsap move right now. Bud will still want the playoffs, and I'd rather not see him in a 7 game series.

One thing to look out for is the upcoming schedule. @ORL, @NOP, @DAL, @BK, vs BOS, vs MK, @NYK, @DET, vs. CHI, vs. PHI

Every one of those games is winnable for Atlanta, and they should be the favorites in almost all of them. Would a good upcoming run dissuade the front office from moving Millsap in an attempt at another run at it?

The only thing that would PERSUADE BudCox to move Sap if they receive an actual worthwhile offer.

[Jamaaliver]

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This has happened twice in the last year. They almost traded [Millsap] to Denver at the trade deadline last year and then they also had a trade lined up for Jeff Teague and then ultimately decided not to do either trade and ended up in the second round against the Cavs, where they got swept. Then over the summer, after they did trade Jeff Teague and signed Dwight Howard, they were all set to trade Millsap if Al Horford had re-signed. They were going to trade him to Toronto. And then that deal fell through when Horford went to Boston.

Here

The Phoenix Suns reportedly talked with the Atlanta Hawks about Paul Millsap...The Denver Nuggets had the Hawks biting on a package of picks and players...for Millsap, per several league sources.

Here

[Jamaaliver]

^At this point, it's approaching the absurdity of last year's trade deadline shenanigans.

To come so close multiple times to trading him, but then to back off...good grief, just make a decision. Dragging this out just serves as a distraction for the entire team.





I'm still standing by my prediction that unless ATL makes another unlikely run to the ECF, this is Wes Wilcox's last season as GM of the Atlanta Hawks.

[Jamaaliver]

Jeff Schultz over at the AJC has finally come around on his stance for the Hawks moving forward:

Hawks need change, and that may mean trading Millsap

This roster is not working today, and it’s not likely to work tomorrow. Make a deal...the Hawks are 18-16 through 34 games and there’s nothing to suggest they won’t be 18-16 in the next 34. So where does that get you?

Millsap can exercise an opt-out clause in his contract after the season — and he will because it’s the smart business move. If the Hawks are going to trade Millsap, it makes more sense do it soon...There is no strong argument against blowing this up.

There is pressure on Budenholzer...There is pressure on general manager Wes Wilcox...There is pressure on ownership.

The fact the Hawks have hovered around .500 all season is not a surprise. The question now is whether the front office talks itself into believing that an 18-16 team will get better or it acknowledges change is needed.

Here

[D21]

Not saying we don't have to trade Millsap, but it's funny how each year, it seems an urgency for ATL, while other team with the same record have no problem keeping their roster...

There is no urgency. Let them play and evaluate them on January, then we will think about that.
We are at 18-16, yes, but we beat CLE, TOR and SAS. And if it's not showing that there is some potential... I don't know what is needed, because we are still playing with Bazemore at an horrible impact, and without Splitter, who should be traded way before Millsap.

And last point : maybe they were ready to trade Millsap to TOR last summer, but it was to get Horford back.
This time, there will be no Horford, so the motivation to send him to a a Eastern team with better record has to be different...

[jayu70]

Not saying we don't have to trade Millsap, but it's funny how each year, it seems an urgency for ATL, while other team with the same record have no problem keeping their roster...

There is no urgency. Let them play and evaluate them on January, then we will think about that.
We are at 18-16, yes, but we beat CLE, TOR and SAS. And if it's not showing that there is some potential... I don't know what is needed, because we are still playing with Bazemore at an horrible impact, and without Splitter, who should be traded way before Millsap.

And last point : maybe they were ready to trade Millsap to TOR last summer, but it was to get Horford back.
This time, there will be no Horford, so the motivation to send him to a a Eastern team with better record has to be different...

Agreed.
Example: one of the Teague deals was to Philly at the deadline was for Staukus, Ish Smith who was also a free agent and one on their 1st round picks owed to them from another team.
Which is better? 1 or 2
1. Teague for Staukus, Ish and pick #24 OR #26 (those would have been the picks)

OR

2. Teague for #12 which we turned into Taurean Prince.

[jayu70]

Paul Millsap and Mike Budenholzer have talked about the recent trade speculation involving the Hawks’ All-Star forward according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore.

Millsap wouldn’t disclose to Vivlamore what was said at the meeting but did say that they had spoken and their main focus remains on winning games.

“We talked holistically, big picture, basketball, typical conversation that Bud and I may have. We spoke. It was (important) for us to sit down and talk to each other, especially with everything that is circulating out there. Get back to what you have to do to focus on basketball.”
Speculation ramped up after an ESPN.com report this past Sunday that the Hawks were listening to trade offers for Millsap who can opt out of his contract next summer and become an unrestricted free agent. Millsap will be a sought after free agent on the open market next summer and will command a max or near-max offer. That may be more than the Hawks are willing to offer and is something they must weigh carefully between now and the trade deadline on February 23.

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/1/4/14167120/paul-millsap-mike-budenholzer-spoke-trade-rumors-atlanta-hawks

[jayu70]

Millsap has been a primary target of trade speculation since the Hawks recently began speaking with other teams about him and other players on the roster. Such conversations were at first seen as due diligence with the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 23. However, talks concerning Millsap may have advanced.

Millsap was asked whether he believed a deal was imminent.

“I’m not sure,” he said. “Not a clue.”

Budenholzer would not reveal details of the meeting.
“I’m always talking to our guys about lots of different things,” Budenholzer said. “I visit with Paul. He visits with me.”

Budenholzer said he believed Millsap was in a good place considering the speculation.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/basketball/millsap-budenholzer-meet-amid-trade-speculation/NYzfL5f8PXvnmTKTOGbmsO/

[Jamaaliver]

Paul Millsap and Mike Budenholzer have talked about the recent trade speculation involving the Hawks’ All-Star forward according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore.

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/1/4/14167120/paul-millsap-mike-budenholzer-spoke-trade-rumors-atlanta-hawks

I can't imagine how difficult it is to operate through this type of adversity...almost annually.

I give credit to Millsap, Horford -- and even Josh Smith for carrying themselves with professionalism whenever these scenarios arise.

I also hope we at least send Millsap, Korver and Thabo to ideal locations -- while getting back good value.

We sent Teague home to Indiana; I'd be disappointed if Korver ended up in, say, Brooklyn or Millsap got stuck in Sacramento.

[ATL Boy]

My ideal scenario for this situation is re-signing Sap to a 2-3 year max deal (idk if he'll go for it but this is just my ideal scenario).

We won't have to sell him for pennies on the dollar, and his deal will coincide with Dwight's. I think his game will age well enough to not be a liability at the tail end of that type of deal.

After he and Dwight expire, we'll hopefully have won enough and established a healthy enough culture where free agents will seriously look at us.

Does it mean the treadmill for a few more years (hopefully we'll be hitting on draft picks)? Yes. But with Lebron still going strong which other playoff team in the east isn't a treadmill team at the moment?


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[Jamaaliver]

My ideal scenario for this situation is re-signing Sap to a 2-3 year max deal (idk if he'll go for it but this is just my ideal scenario).

After he and Dwight expire, we'll hopefully have won enough and established a healthy enough culture where free agents will seriously look at us.

Wow. I have to say, I'm pretty surprised to hear you say this.

But I understand hoping sustained 'above-averageness' can be seen as a positive by Free Agents.

I think last summer (and summer 2014) really left doubts in my mind if that approach is doable.

Kevin Durant wasn't going to sign with us. I accept that. But he wouldn't even meet with us. He was willing to meet with Boston, but not the Hawks (who had made the post-season 9 straight times).

This was after LeBron and Carmelo declined to meet with us in 2014. Here And Here And Here

Not to mention Luol Deng and Pau Gasol passing on us as well.

If 9 years of being pretty good can't even get us a 15 minute meeting with a top Free Agent target (or seal the deal with secondary Free Agents)...I no longer believe 12 years of being pretty good will do it either.

[ATL Boy]

My ideal scenario for this situation is re-signing Sap to a 2-3 year max deal (idk if he'll go for it but this is just my ideal scenario).

After he and Dwight expire, we'll hopefully have won enough and established a healthy enough culture where free agents will seriously look at us.

Wow. I have to say, I'm pretty surprised to hear you say this.

But I understand hoping sustained 'above-averageness' can be seen as a positive by Free Agents.

I think last summer (and summer 2014) really left doubts in my mind if that approach is doable.

Kevin Durant wasn't going to sign with us. I accept that. But he wouldn't even meet with us. He was willing to meet with Boston, but not the Hawks (who had made the post-season 9 straight times).

This was after LeBron and Carmelo declined to meet with us in 2014. Here And Here And Here

Not to mention Luol Deng and Pau Gasol passing on us as well.

If 9 years of being pretty good can't even get us a 15 minute meeting with a top Free Agent target (or seal the deal with secondary Free Agents)...I no longer believe 12 years of being pretty good will do it either.

It's not perfect, but what are the alternatives?

Trade Millsap now for role players/late draft picks and end up becoming a first round exit, lower tier, playoff team.

Move on from Dwight and get a reputation as a team that'll trade a player as soon as he signs with them as a FA.

Full on tanking isn't an option with the new owner wanting to win.

None of these scenarios is appealing.

I also think that we've become a more attractive FA destination recently with coach Bud than we were during the Woody/LD years. Millsap and Dwight were two of the biggest FA signings in franchise history, both bought in to the system. With new ownership investing in the team instead of internally bickering I don't see why we couldn't become a more attractive FA destination in a few years.


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[MaceCase]

I would think that moving on from the one of the worst, cheapest, most fractured and duplicitous ownership groups to an owner that has already managed to wrangle together a 200 million dollar renovation to Phillips, a world class training facility and oh my, even a DLeague team should help to elevate the Hawks free agent profile above "we've made the playoffs for like a decade" but what do I know?

[Jamaaliver]

It's not perfect, but what are the alternatives?

And THAT's the question. The front office bypassed a lot of possible trade assets for Millsap to this point. What was the backup plan on the off chance we didn't get back to top tier status? There's got to be another option better than tanking or overpaying for a bad/declining team.


Another concern: can we even depend on Millsap to re-sign?

Knowing we've strongly considered trading him three times in the last twelve months, why would he commit here?

If his career is approaching its conclusion, wouldn't he prefer to play with a contender?

If All NBA, All Star Al Horford would walk away from us, why should we believe Millsap won't do the same?



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[ATL Boy]

Kings really interested in Millsap, really motivated to get to the playoffs.

I hope we can use their desperation against them.


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[ATL Boy]

Kings, Raptors, Nuggets, 76ers, Pelicans all very interested in Millsap from the tweets by Woj and others I've seen.

I smell a bidding war (still interested in Denver's assets the most).


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[Jamaaliver]

Kings, Raptors, Nuggets, 76ers, Pelicans all very interested in Millsap from the tweets by Woj and others I've seen.

I smell a bidding war (still interested in Denver's assets the most).

Man, I hope so. That ORL deal for Ibaka was so good. Anything approaching that would be a real boon for us moving forward.



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[Bosnian Diehard]

Kings really interested in Millsap, really motivated to get to the playoffs.

I hope we can use their desperation against them.


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As a desperate fan who would love to see a Millsap/Boogie combo lead us to our first Playoffs in 11 years, I was interested in seeing what Hawks fans would like in return for Millsap?

[City of Trees]

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[dlb731]

Kings really interested in Millsap, really motivated to get to the playoffs.

I hope we can use their desperation against them.


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As a desperate fan who would love to see a Millsap/Boogie combo lead us to our first Playoffs in 11 years, I was interested in seeing what Hawks fans would like in return for Millsap?

Sorry... But I don't see anything you could offer for Millsap, in all honesty..