Hawks GM: Millsap 'might get better offers than we can make him'
New management, new direction.
Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk gave comments to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitutional that hinted at the club potentially letting free-agent forward Paul Millsap walk this offseason.
"We are going to make Paul our best offer," Schlenk said. "Will he have better offers? I don’t know. Do we want to keep Paul? Sure. I said last week, if you are building a team with all the things I’ve said, Paul checks all those boxes. He’s a hard worker. He’s a good guy. He’s high character. Skilled. He does all that stuff. We’d like to have him.
"The reality is, he might get better offers than we can make him."
Millsap is the last remaining member of the Hawks' starting five from the 2014-15 season in which they won 60 games. The four-time All-Star has been the team's backbone on both ends of the floor and has guided it to four straight playoff appearances. He's selfless and contributes across the board, ranking among the best two-way players in the league.
His age, however, presents a problem. Millsap's recent performance merits a maximum salary, but he's already 32 and a five-year deal would see him signed until 37. Schlenk's concern is that the contract - not the player - could be a problem in a few years.
"I’ve also said a contract level depends on the player," Schlenk added. "Certain players, whatever Steph Curry and Kevin Durant get this summer, that’s going to be a tradeable contract."
The Hawks had a similar episode last season when they balked at giving aging franchise cornerstone Al Horford a five-year deal. That negotiation tactic led Horford to leave for Boston, while the Hawks were left with an expensive and ill-fitting Dwight Howard as their center.
Atlanta also parted ways with Jeff Teague last offseason as he was on the verge of a payday, and then shipped out Kyle Korver who was also on an expiring deal. The fifth starter from the 2015 team was DeMarre Carroll, who signed with the Toronto Raptors on a lucrative contract two summers ago.
Therefore, it would seem that all signs point to a rebuild in Atlanta. Schlenk himself admitted that his club is prioritizing the draft over returning Millsap.
"I’m focusing on the draft rather than Paul," Schlenk said. "It’s (being discussed) in the room but, right now, No. 19 (draft selection) is the most important thing. I can tell you we want Paul. We want to keep him. He checks everything."
The Raptors and Denver Nuggets have reportedly expressed interest in Millsap in the past.