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The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly ready to begin listening to offers for All-Star forward Paul Millsap and now perhaps we know why. ESPN.com’s Chris Haynes reports that Millsap is planning to opt out of his current contract at the end of the season and will become an unrestricted free agent.
Atlanta Hawks power forward Paul Millsap to opt out at end of season to become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 1, 2017
This would be a more newsworthy item if Millsap wasn’t planning to opt out. That has been widely assumed to be the case dating back to last season. Millsap is once again putting up All-Star worthy numbers and could command a max or near-max contract as an unrestricted free agent next summer. Such a deal would consist of paying Millsap something north of $30 million per season.
Millsap turns 32 in February and while he will be difficult to replace, Atlanta probably isn’t intrigued with the idea of paying Millsap what it will likely take to retain his services. Atlanta stopped short of offering a full max deal to Al Horford last summer.