Atlanta Hawks Commit To The Present

The Atlanta Hawks have decided not to be sellers at the trade deadline this season. They have committed to winning this season.

Trade rumor season has been rather wild for the Atlanta Hawks. At the beginning of January it appeared like they were all set to begin a complete fire-sale. Kyle Korver was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and rumors insinuated that Paul Millsap, Thabo Sefolosha, and Tim Hardaway Jr. might be next.

My how things have changed. Sefolosha is injured. Hardaway has turned into a key role player and Mike Budenholzer recently stated that the Hawks would not trade Millsap. In fact, Budenholzer seemed to guarantee that the Hawks would not trade Millsap.

He stated it pretty clearly to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Feb. 13.

"“He’s not going anywhere,” said Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, who also serves as president of basketball operations, to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. “You can write that.”"

There’s nothing ambiguous about that statement. If we are to take Budenholzer at his word, and I see no reason not to, Paul Millsap will remain with the Atlanta Hawks for at least the remainder of this season. That means Atlanta is committed to winning in the present, even if that means the future becomes messy.

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It’s easy to see why the Hawks would decide to go in this direction. They currently have a 32-23 record. They are placed 4th in the tightening Eastern Conference playoff race. It’s tough to sell rebuilding to your fan-base when your team is within shouting distance of the top of the conference standings.

Given the uncertainty in the Eastern Conference, it’s possible the Hawks could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th.

Deciding to forgo that to start over is not an easy sell. Especially when you’re in the process of raising season ticket prices to pay for arena renovations. Fans don’t usually like to pay more to view a lesser product. The promise of long-term success, rather than present success, is difficult to articulate to people spending their hard earned money on tickets, jerseys, and NBA League Pass.

I tend to think they should have started the rebuild in early January when things looked bleak. It’s a difficult process, but sometimes you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. Unless something crazy happens, this team isn’t winning an NBA Championship. They might make the Eastern Conference Finals, but that’s still unlikely.

If the ultimate goal is winning a title then something about their formula needs to change. They are in a messy middle ground where they’re good but not great. That’s not going to change anytime soon and it may get worse before it gets better.

Millsap will be a free agent at the end of the season. He will likely demand a maximum contract, as he should. The Hawks would love to bring him back to have him finish his career as a Hawk. But, do they want to pay him max-level money for his age 32 through 37 seasons?

Millsap’s game could age well. He’s not a player that relies completely on his athleticism. Millsap is versatile, he passes well, he’s a good shooter, he’s crafty, and he is a fundamentally sound defender.

It wouldn’t shock me to see him play well for the duration of his next contract. It’s just not likely. Players tend to regress in their mid-30’s. That fact is difficult to ignore. That doesn’t mean it will happen to Millsap. It’s just the norm. There are exceptions to the rule, but the rule exists for a reason.

We recently got a glimpse of what a Millsap to the Toronto Raptors deal might have looked like if Atlanta had decided move him. Today the Raptors acquired Serge Ibaka from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Terrence Ross and a first round pick.

I think the Hawks would have gotten more, but this likely would have been the starting point. Is a cost-controlled bench scorer and a first round pick that will likely be in the 20’s worth starting a rebuild in the middle of a winning season? Atlanta’s answer must have been no.

For now the questions about the summer can remain unanswered. Hawks fans can focus on the playoff push, crossing their fingers that everything breaks in a way that sees Atlanta back in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Millsap is committed to piling up as many wins as he can. He told Chris Vivlamore that’s where his head is at.

"“Bud has been a man of his word,” Millsap said. “He has always shot it straight with me, always been honest with me. I take his word for what it is. It’s refreshing to know I’m not going anywhere and I’ll be on this team until the end of the year."

"“Now, I’ve got to make it work. Stick to basketball and try to get wins.”"

He has to be happy that the trade chatter will stop. Millsap is a pro’s pro, but all that talk has to wear on a player eventually. Now he can focus on basketball without the constant noise surrounding him.

Next: Hawks Eye View Episode 2

We can’t know whether or not this is right decision until everything plays out. At least the confusion is gone. This organization has a clear vision moving forward; they want to win and win now.