What would a Paul Millsap to Denver trade look like?
By Nile Goodwyn
Paul Millsap has arguably been the best player on the Hawks since his arrival in Atlanta. If the Hawks traded him, possibly to the Denver Nuggets, what could they receive in return for the 3-time All-Star?
Paul Millsap’s time as an Atlanta Hawk has coincided with some of the team’s greatest success, including the magical 60-win 2014-15 season. But, the 2016-17 Hawks will look a lot different; only two players from the starting lineup, Millsap and Kyle Korver, are still on the roster, and neither are 100% locks to be on the roster on Opening Night.
Even with Millsap being one of the best players in the Eastern Conference over the past two seasons, the Hawks have been quietly shopping him since free agency began.
The Hawks were reportedly in contact with a number of teams, gauging the league’s interest for the star forward.There have Even with Millsap on the last guaranteed year of his contract (player option for his 2016-17 season), teams, like the Denver Nuggets, are still willing to risk integral pieces of their future in order to acquire an elite veteran. If so the Hawks do choose to deal one of the best players in the league, what could they receive in return?
Hawks Receive: Kenneth Faried, Will Barton, and Joffrey Lauvergne
Nuggets Receive: Paul Millsap, Thabo Sefolosha, and a future 2nd-round pick
This reported trade would bring the Hawks an interesting return for Millsap. Faried averaged 12.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game last season, and is well-regarded around the league as one of the best undersized rebounders in the game today.
Barton improved his scoring average by 8.1 points from the season before, and finished 4th in 6th Man of the Year voting. His athleticism and slashing could fit in the Hawks’ system perfectly.
Lauvergne averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds in 18 minutes last season, and shot 51% from the field in his 59 games (15 starts). All three of the aforementioned players would play meaningful minutes for the Hawks next season, if the trade materialized.
All three players bring high energy on the court, but lack the outside shooting that Millsap and Sefolosha bring to Coach Budenholzer’s offense. Faried attempted nearly 65% of his shot attempts last season from inside of 3 feet, compared to Millsap’s 36%.
Barton is a promising wing that would be an upgrade on Sefolosha, who’s offensive game has never been notable. Barton also has defensive tools (6’6, 6’10 wingspan) to become a defensive pest, pairing with Kent Bazemore and creating a scary sight for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Barton’s scoring would give the Hawks even more wing versatility, as it gives them a three-headed monster at shooting guard, with Kyle Korver and Tim Hardaway Jr.
At a glance, the Millsap-Faried swap looks like a huge downgrade for the Hawks. Faried lacks the floor spacing ability that Millsap brings, and he has never averaged more than 1.2 assists per game, which looks miniscule in comparison to Millsap’s 3.3 assists last season. But, if you could take a look at Millsap’s final season in Utah, in which he averaged 14.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 49% from the field, and 33% from behind the three-point line, you can see that playing under Coach Budenholzer’s system can shape a player into one that will help the Hawks win games.
If the Hawks did make this deal with the Nuggets, it would be the end of the 60-win Hawks mini-dynasty that brought the city exciting basketball on a nightly basis. But, with three-fifths of that starting lineup gone, maybe it is time for the Hawks to turn the page and begin a new chapter, one that is in the hands of Dennis Schroder, Kent Bazemore, and Dwight Howard. Adding Faried and Barton to that lineup would elevate versatility and energy on the team, but rid the team of Millsap’s ability to take over and get the Hawks buckets when necessary. Would this trade help of hurt the Hawks in the short term? In the long term?
Next: Hawks Projected Starting Lineup For 2016-17
Leave your thoughts on the possible deal in the comments, and discuss it with me on Twitter @ATLpistolpete.