The Atlanta Hawks could be intrigued in trading Paul Millsap to the Los Angeles Lakers for Julius Randle and a handful of young assets.
The Hawks is slowly veering towards changing their basketball identity after the team made significant changes to their roster in free agency. After losing Al Horford to the Boston Celtics and trading away starting point guard Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers, many speculate that Paul Millsap could be the next to leave Atlanta, especially after being placed on the trading block in hopes of clearing cap room for Horford last month.
According to Tyler Sellers of Soaring Down South, a popular fan site hosted by Sports Illustrated, the Hawks could be interested in sending Millsap to the Lakers for Julius Randle and a pack of young assets.
"The Lakers will genuinely offer any one of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell, Larry Nance Jr. and perhaps even Brandon Ingram in a potential Millsap deal between now and then," the writer speculated.
"To gain those type of young players coach Budenholzer could develop them into the type of star players that we [Hawks fans] all crave for."
Millsap, who averaged 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season, is a proven veteran who could instantly speed up the Lakers' process of becoming legit contenders in the league. But to the extent of trading the likes of Jordan Clarkson, D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram, such deal may forever stay as a pipe dream scenario.
However, a deal involving Randle, Nick Young and Lou Williams could work, according to ESPN's trade machine.
Randle would give the Hawks a youngster who has a potential to become a perennial All-Star in the league if given ample chance to display his full potential. Randle's versatility and all-around game would fit well under Mike Budenholzer's system.
While pairing Randle to Dwight Howard would create spacing issues for the Hawks, Young and Williams could come in to cover up any of the potential red flags. Young and Williams struggled to shoot the ball with the Lakers last season, but in a system where Kyle Korver thrives, both players could restart their career with the Hawks.
The Hawks seem inclined to deal Millsap, who has a player option in the final year of his three-year $60 million contract with the Hawks he signed last summer. They could wait until mid-season to increase Millsap's trade value, but a deal for Randle is something the Hawks should immediately consider.