It could only be a matter of time before the Atlanta Hawks trade Paul Millsap.
The Hawks have reportedly named their asking price for the services of Millsap, who is likely to be dealt before the February 23 trade deadline. CBS Sports reported that the Hawks are looking to deal Millsap for young talents and draft pick in return, while ESPN's Marc Stein noted that Atlanta wants "at least one quality first to headline a Millsap deal."
Millsap, who is averaging 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season, is excellent on both ends of the floor and has minimal weaknesses in his game. The three-time All-Star can create his own shots and is capable of defending multiple positions.
However, Millsap will likely opt out of his three-year $60.2 million contract with the Hawks after this season, which could make him a one-year rental for teams interested to acquire his services. Nevertheless, considering his immense talent on both ends of the floor, contenders should be interested in exploring a deal for the veteran forward.
Among the teams reportedly intrigued in adding Millsap is the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
The Blazers are currently No. 8 in the West, and may need to add a legitimate talent to help them secure a playoff spot. Adding Millsap would give Portland a scoring option inside the paint and a complementary All-Star talent to play alongside C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard.
Portland could give include the likes of Allen Crabbe, Moe Harkless and Meyers Leonard in a potential deal, but trading for Millsap could be tricky for teams, according to Chris Vivlamore of Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"What the Hawks get in return will depend greatly on whether the trade partner can get more than a rental player. Millsap has an opt-out year on his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent," Vivlamore wrote.
Another team surprisingly interested in trading for Millsap is the Sacramento Kings, reports Vivlamore.
The Kings are on track to compete in the playoffs if they could consistently hit the winning column for the remainder of the season, and adding Millsap can only boost their chances of ending their postseason drought. Real GM writer Keith Smith claimed that Sacramento would love to pair Millsap with All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.
While the Kings have plenty of young prospects and moveable veterans to offer, the earliest selection the team could include in any potential deal is a 2021 pick.
On the other hand, the Toronto Raptors appear as the ideal destination for Millsap, who has long been a target of the North. After the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Kyle Korver from the Hawks, there should be a real interest from the Raptors to bring Millsap in Toronto and close the gap with the defending champs. Even before Patrick Patterson went down with a knee injury, the Raptors have a huge hole to fill at the four spot offensively and defensively.
Michael Grange of SportsNet listed a trade scenario that may be too expensive for Toronto, but may get the deal done for a potential Millsap trade. "If Toronto can build a deal around one of Cory Joseph or Terrence Ross (it would likely have to be Ross, given his upside), tossing in Sullinger's expiring contract and one or both of Toronto's first-round picks in 2017 and maybe - maybe - one more prospect (Bruno Caboclo anyone? Delon Wright?) and call it day, then go for it," Grange wrote.
Trading for Millsap would surely cost the Raptors a lot, but Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders noted that dealing for the All-Star forward now gives the Raptors more leverage to keep him long-term even if they go over the cap assuming Kyle Lowry received a contract extension this offseason.
"Trading for Millsap now gives Toronto his Bird rights, which would mean they could exceed the cap to keep him as part of this team's core long enough to make the most of his prime, as well as DeRozan's and Lowry's. It would be expensive, but it's the best way for this team to compete seriously for a championship," Brigham wrote.
It remains to be seen whether the Hawks would truly trade Millsap. If Atlanta hopes for a playoff bid this year, keeping Millsap gives them a better chance of competing in the postseason. But then again, if teams could offer very enticing packages for a soon-to-be free agent, it is something the Atlanta should consider.
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