It’s not ever pleasant but all the trade possibilities and rumors are part of the business in the NBA.
Paul Millsap knows it.
The Hawks’ three-time all-star power forward found himself in the middle of such trade talk this summer as Hawks management juggled the re-signing of their own free agents Al Horford and Kent Bazemore and the signing of Dwight Howard. In the end, Bazemore and Howard stayed and Horford left. Millsap also remains as a trade never materialized.
“Not my first time; not going to be my last,” Millsap said when asked about the trade talk by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday. “The business is the business. I don’t think anyone is OK with it but it is what it is. You have to accept it for what it is. I’m an Atlanta Hawk. I will be until further notice. I’m going to put everything on the floor to help this team and this community win.”
Millsap was an unrestricted free agent last summer. He took less money than some other offers, most notably from the Magic, to stay with the Hawks when he agreed to a three-year, $59 million contract. After the upcoming season, Millsap has a player option and can opt out of his contract and re-enter unrestricted free agency. That move is likely based solely on the increases in the NBA salary cap this and next year.
Millsap will likely be a hot topic on or before the NBA trade deadline next season as the Hawks risk losing him for nothing, just as they did with Horford.
Millsap said he remains on good terms with Hawks management despite the trade talk. He said there were no fences that need to be mended.
“It is what it is,” Millsap said. “I don’t dislike anybody in this organization. I still think they are stand-up people. I still think they are terrific people. Our relationship is going to be our relationship. We are still on good terms.”
