The Atlanta Hawks are ready to listen to offers for power forward Paul Millsap and the NBA trade rumors erupt.
It was only a matter of time before Millsap is officially on the trading block and a report from ESPN may have confirmed all the speculation. Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst made the call.
"The Atlanta Hawks have begun listening to trade pitches for All-Star forward Paul Millsap in recent days, according to league sources," the report stated.
"Sources told ESPN.com that the Hawks, fearful of losing Millsap in free agency without compensation in the summer, are not openly shopping him but are taking calls on the 31-year-old and other pending free agents, notably sharpshooter Kyle Korver and swingman Thabo Sefolosha."
There was also a comment that rival teams complained that the Hawks were asking so much for Millsap. One of the downsides to Millsap is that he will become a free agent at the end of the season, making it difficult for other teams to part with real assets for him.
The Toronto Raptors is the usual suspect, and probably the team that should take a chance on trading much for Millsap. The Chicago Bulls could also be involved as one of their key players is hot on the rumor mill.
In a report from CSN Chicago, former All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo confirmed that he will meet with Bulls GM Gar Forman with regards to his dwindling playing time.
"Gar (Forman, Bulls GM) and I will have a talk. We'll talk tonight and go from there. I don't know if it's right now, maybe the next 30, 18, 45 minutes. Tonight, before '17 (the clock strikes midnight)," Rondo stated.
The Bulls traded for Michael Carter-Williams early in the season in a move that was speculated to confirm the team's hesitations regarding Rondo. If they do end up trading Rondo, it's unlikely the Hawks will be interested and trade Millsap for him.
However, there is also speculation about the Sixers and their own need for backcourt help. They were rumored to pursue Kyle Lowry but Rondo could be a worthy target.