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Atlanta Hawks: A Blueprint on letting Paul Millsap walk during Free Agency

By Nile Goodwyn

Apr 6, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) reacts after a play during their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) reacts after a play during their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Step 2: Re-Sign Ersan Ilyasova

Mar 29, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (20) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (20) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Even with a talented rookie on the roster, fully replacing Paul Millsap is impossible. His night-to-night impact on the Hawks has been pivotal to winning during his four seasons with the Hawks. Keeping a number of talented players on the team at power forward would be extremely important in continuing success for the Hawks.

If Millsap is not re-signed, the Hawks must retain Ersan Ilyasova. In 26 games, Ilyasova averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, shooting 41.2 percent from the field. Ilyasova has been one of the best shooters in the league since he was drafted in 2005, shooting 36.6 percent from behind the arc over his career.

While he isn’t as proficient as Millsap on the defensive end, Ilyasova does bring a useful defensive skill set to the Hawks. He does not block shots, blocking 0.4 shots per game during his career. Nor does he steal the ball at a high level, nabbing only 0.7 steals per game. Ilyasova excels at an odd defensive skill: taking charges. Last season, he took 36 charges, a number that the led the NBA. The prior season he led the league with 35 charges taken, which was six more than the second-place Demarcus Cousins.

Ilyasova surely is not going to perfectly replace Paul Millsap in the event of him leaving the Hawks. No single player could fulfil the All-Star’s departure. However, keeping a talented, skilled big like Ilyasova on the roster would aid the team to stay relevant as a rookie develops into a starter.

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