NBA Trade Rumour: Raptors among teams making offers for Millsap

The fire sale in Atlanta has begun. Late Thursday, the Hawks traded Kyle Korver to the Cavaliers for warm garbage (a first-round pick and Mike Dunleavy) and shortly after, the real news hit.

Yes, Atlanta is on the phone and talking to teams about Paul Millsap. After losing Al Horford in the off-season for nothing, the Hawks are motivated to not have the same situation play out with their other frontcourt star. Among the interested teams: Toronto, Denver, and Sacramento.

From Wojnarowski’s The Vertical:

Atlanta (19-16) is engaged in discussions with several teams on forward Paul Millsap, who can become a free agent in July, and the organization is motivated to move him sooner rather than later, sources said. Toronto, Denver and Sacramento are among teams with an interest in Millsap, league sources said.

Cleveland’s Korver acquisition keeps pressure on Toronto to make a move to improve itself in the Eastern Conference. Toronto has the assets – including young players and draft picks – to make a deal for Millsap, but Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has to weigh the Raptors’ ability to re-sign Millsap in the summer – and his payroll. Millsap is expected to use his player option to become a free agent, and he could cost nearly $30 million annually. The Raptors also will need to re-sign All-Star guard Kyle Lowry, who will command a similar extension. Toronto wants to re-sign forward Patrick Patterson, too.

In less credible reports (all hail the Woj), it’s been said that the Hawks have a preference for dealing with a Western Conference team (which seems a little comical considering they just sent their best shooter to the Cavs, but I digress), and that’d be bad news for the Raptors.

What it comes down to is the attractiveness of whatever package teams can throw together. Denver has some young bigs and picks, but does Atlanta feel comfortable with Dwight Howard as a one-man show inside? The Raptors have Terrence Ross and young assets, but will including Patrick Patterson in the trade be a deal-breaker for Masai Ujiri?

These are questions for another day (or possibly later today). For now, it’s incredibly intriguing that the Raptors are in a very tight circle surrounding Atlanta’s pre-eminent star.

Also, this is a huge eyes emoji thing that happened.

What are your thoughts on bringing Millsap in?