An All-Star power forward who can clean the glass and hit threes at a 35 percent clip is going to be in demand as a free agent.
We’re looking at you, Paul Millsap. He averaged 16.7 points and 7.8 rebounds last season as a key cog in the 60-win Atlanta Hawks team. He’s a free agent and the Hawks want him back.
But as noted above, he is the kind of talent that will be in demand. In fact, his former team the UtahJazzare interested and are going to make a run at him, reports Spencer Checketts on Twitter. And before you say “Who?” know Checketts is the son of former Jazz president Dave Checketts, and Spencer now has his own radio show on the Jazz-owned radio flagship station (hat tip KSL.com via Hoopshype).
Just caught wind that the Jazz will actively pursue Hawks UFA PF Paul Millsap this off-season.
— Spence Checketts (@spencechecketts) June 12, 2015
Interesting. And not very likely.
Interesting because he wouldn’t have a natural place in the lineup. The Jazz like their young front line of Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert, and you don’t bring in a max (or near max) All-Star to come off the bench. And they certainly shouldn’t send Favors to the bench, they just re-signed him to a big deal a year ago. So it’s hard to see the fit.
Then there’s the little issue of money. Even if the Jazz dumped every non-guaranteed option on their roster (and that’s not likely), they would have $16.1 million available (according to BasketballInsiders.com). Millsap is going to demand at or very close to his max of $18.6 million a year.
If you can explain to me why Millsap would take less money to play for team where he would see fewer minutes, on a weaker team in a tougher conference, then maybe you can talk me into this rumor. But we both know this is not happening.