SI Breaking down the Millsap signing.

[HawkItus]

Posted July 06, 2013

Reports: Hawks agree to sign Paul Millsap to two-year deal

Atlanta Hawks, Ben Golliver, Paul Millsap, Utah Jazz

By Ben Golliver

Paul Millsap is reportedly headed to Atlanta. (D. Clarke Evans/Getty Images)

The Hawks have agreed to sign unrestricted free agent forward Paul Millsap to a multi-year contract, according to multiple reports.

ESPN.com and CBSSports.com report Millsap will receive a two-year contract worth $19 million.

The free-agent negotiating period opened Monday. Contracts can’t officially be signed until July 10.

Earlier Friday, the Jazz renounced their rights to Millsap so they could acquire Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush in a trade with the Warriors. Utah received multiple first-round picks in exchange for taking on the three expiring contracts from Golden State, who used their new-found cap space to reach an agreement with unrestricted free agent guard/forward Andre Iguodala.

Millsap, 28, averaged 14.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the Jazz, appearing in 78 games last season.

A 2006 second-round pick, Millsap has spent his entire seven-year career in Utah, developing a reputation as an underrated, hardworking power forward with a versatile offensive game. Last season, Millsap was Utah’s second-leading scorer and rebounder and his PER of 19.9 ranked sixth among power forwards league-wide. This guy is as dependable as it gets: Millsap has appeared in 540 out of a possible 558 games (96.8 percent) during his career.

Earlier this week, veteran center Al Jefferson agreed to sign with the Bobcats, leaving the Jazz after three seasons, and now Millsap departs, bulldozing a wide open path for a youth movement that has been anticipated for some time. This transition of power to young big men Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter was inevitable, but that both Jefferson and Millsap walk in the same week without any direct compensation is worth a raised eyebrow. It’s particularly surprising Utah would allow Millsap to leave town on such a reasonable contract, but it’s likely management simply decided the Millsap/Jefferson combination had run its course with a first-round playoff exit in 2012 and a lottery trip in 2013. Amassing picks makes plenty of sense with a young, talented quintet — 2013 lottery pick Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward, Favors and Kanter — ready to serve as the foundation for the next era.

Grade: A. In some ways, this contract is almost too good to believe. Consider Jefferson signed a three-year deal worth $41 million and Hawks forward Josh Smith could possibly command a four-year deal worth upwards of $50 million. Millsap just might be the most valuable of those three players, regardless of price, and he is a downright steal at just $9.5 million per year on a short deal smack dab in the middle of his prime. GM Danny Ferry now has a sturdy foundation to build around thanks to the pairing of Millsap and incumbent center Al Horford. Don’t be surprised if Millsap is in the mix for an All-Star spot in the weaker Eastern Conference.

[JohnnyCASH]

and people hate the signing SMH

[frankthetank966]

Everyone wants results NOW. That's the type of society we are in. Take time and get things done the right way. Whether he starts at SF or PF or comes off the bench this is a good addition.

[macdaddy]

I agree with the article that I can't believe he signed for this amount for just two years. I think Hawks fans are quickly going to love him.

[Packfill]

Everyone wants results NOW. That's the type of society we are in. Take time and get things done the right way. Whether he starts at SF or PF or comes off the bench this is a good addition.

I understand your point, but the other side of the coin is worth exploring as well. If a Horford/Smoove/Teague line-up is at its best getting you a second round playoff exit, a Horford/Millsap/???? line-up is going to get you much of the same, along with maybe winning 50 games during the season. I don't doubt better coaching will help, but I do wonder how they integrate the youth if the goal is to maintain a shot at the playoffs.

You may look at that and say, hey, that sounds pretty good. My opinion, however, is that if you are going to rebuild - and there is no question Ferry is rebuilding - you might as well swing for the fences. Right now the only real shot the team has at breaking the second round ceiling is if the two first rounders turn out to be studs. That may happen, though odds of both doing so are low, but when? Given their youth, you are really looking at least two years down the line (and likely more), in which case Millsap is probably gone (and if not he is 30), Al is nearing 30 at that point too and you have locked yourself into low first round draft picks for two years so you may not be able to acquire additional assets needed to truly compete.

Ferry has a tough job for sure. I would certaintly be looking for putting this team into position to excel two years + from now, rather then next season.