Atlanta is home.
When Paul Millsap was weighing his free-agent offers, including ones to stay with the Hawks or leave for the Magic, the forward decided there was no reason to call a moving van.
On Thursday, Millsap officially signed the three-year contract worth approximately $60 million he agreed to last week as an unrestricted free agent during the NBA’s moratorium period.
“It was a difficult process,” Millsap said. “… We met with other teams to see what was out there from a curiosity standpoint. We met with Orlando. I liked a few things they had to offer but I felt like Atlanta was home and Atlanta was the better fit. That’s what it came down to.”
Millsap opted to continue his career in Atlanta where in his two years he twice made the All-Star teams and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season. There is still plenty of work to be done, the power forward and now highest-paid Hawks player said. Even with the loss of his friend DeMarre Carroll from the starting lineup, the core of the team returns.
“I felt like I was one of the guys who helped this team get to where it’s at,” Millsap said. “We felt like there is unfinished business. We felt like there is still room for improvement. We feel like we can reach our goals.”
Millsap, 30, led the Hawks in scoring (16.7), rebounding (7.8), steals (1.8) and double-doubles (15) last season. He also averaged 3.1 assists while shooting .476 from the field and .356 from three-point range, connecting on a career-best 77 3-pointers. He was one of just two NBA players last season (with Kings All-Star DeMarcus Cousins) to average at least 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals.
“Re-signing Paul was a priority for us. His toughness, versatility, high basketball IQ and unselfishness is representative of the culture we are building,” Hawks president of basketball operations and head coach Mike Budenholzer said in a statement. “We are excited that he will remain a part of our family.”
Millsap, who played seven seasons with the Jazz before signing with the Hawks in 2013, said he will use the rest of the summer to work on his game, including spending time with the Hawks coaching staff.
It was a busy day for the Hawks, who also completed several other transactions with the end of the moratorium.
The Hawks officially added Tiago Splitter to their roster and gave up next to nothing to do it. The acquisition of the forward/center in a trade with the Spurs was agreed to last week.
The Hawks traded only the rights for international prospect Georgios Printezis, a 2007 second-round pick, and a top-55 protected 2017 second-round pick. Printezis was obtained in the Thabo Sefolosha sign-and-trade with the Thunder last year. He plays for Olympiacos in Europe. The Hawks will only surrender the rights to the 2017 second-round pick if it falls from 56-to-60.
Moments after the trade was announced, Splitter reacted on social media, posting on Twitter: “whats up ATL!!! very excited to join the Hawks!”
Splitter, 30, has two years remaining on his contract and will earn $8.5 million next season. Splitter, 6 feet 11, spent his first five NBA seasons with the Spurs, averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.8 minutes in 311 games (151 starts). Last season, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.8 minutes.
“We’re excited to bring Tiago to Atlanta,” Budenholzer said in a statement. “He’s played an important role in a winning environment, has a great understanding of our system and will add to our core character. Tiago also brings championship experience and we look forward to adding his interior presence to our team.”
The Hawks also formally announced the signings of last year’s second-round pick center Edy Tavares and unrestricted free agent guard/forward Justin Holiday, two other deals agreed to last week. The team also waived Austin Daye, who had a non-guaranteed contract.
They also renounced the rights to Carroll, Pero Antic, Elton Brand, John Jenkins and Gustavo Ayon for salary cap purposes. In addition, the Hawks added Glenn Robinson III to their summer league roster. Play begins in Las Vegas on Friday.
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