Atlanta Hawks All-Star forward Paul Millsap received some recognition when the All-NBA vote totals were revealed.
Paul Millsap received three points from national sportswriters and broadcasters who voted for the All-NBA teams. Last season, Millsap was named to the All-Defensive second team.
After completing arguably the best season of his career, he will be heavily sought after by teams attempting to lure him away from Atlanta.
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The league has been dominated by an influx of guards during the past half-decade, but the forwards are making their presence known again.
Millsap is in his prime, but plenty of forwards on the All-NBA teams have yet to reach theirs.
As Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozan, and other young forwards become regulars on these teams, it’s difficult to imagine Millsap will making the cut.
DeMarcus Cousins collected 42 votes, the most votes for a forward who nearly made the third team.
Millsap’s former Utah Jazz teammate, Gordon Hayward, collected 27 votes. Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets received 12 votes, nine more votes than Millsap, without an All-Star game appearance.
Paul George earned 40 votes, and Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge received one vote apiece.
Notable Eastern Conference forwards Kevin Love and Kristaps Porzingis did not register any votes.
Millsap had his best game of the season matched up against Porzingis, and starred against Kevin Love and the Cavaliers in early April.
The last Hawk to make an All-NBA team was Joe Johnson, during the 2009-10 season. “Iso Joe” made the third team, averaging 21.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Following Johnson’s third team selection, Atlanta has sent a player to the All-Star game every year except 2013. However, no Hawk has turned in a season that has put the entire league on watch.
Dwight Howard’s eight-year stretch of making an All-NBA team ended in 2013-2014, his first year with the Houston Rockets.
Hawks F Paul Millsap expected to void contract after season, become free agent, per sources. Loves ATL, would like to stay, but will look.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2017
Paul Millsap could void deal paying him $21.4M next season. Could get max 5-year, $207M with Hawks, or 4-year, $154M with other teams.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2017
Next: Edmond Sumner would be a good value pick
Millsap will opt out of his contract and enter free agency on July 1. However, the four-time consecutive All-Star and the Hawks have made it known that they want to reach an agreement.