ESPN opinion on the Paul Millsap Signing

[BudBall]

Arnovitz: Good deal. On one hand, the Hawks seemed to be poised to finish among the East's upper-middle class, a neighborhood they're quite familiar with. But both the term and size of Millsap's deal make him a nice value play and a whole lot cheaper than paying Josh Smith, who's a better defender but no more efficient as a scorer.

Han: Great deal. Millsap must have noticed that aside from Dwight Howard, all the early free agents to be picked up were wing shooters; the en vogue "3-and-D" players. The Hawks were able to swoop in and snatch one of the best power forwards available this offseason. Millsap gets a fair per-year salary and Atlanta keeps its long-term cap flexibility intact.

Larsen: Great deal. Millsap is a plus-minus superstar, earning the second-best adjusted plus-minus in the league in 2011-12. While his numbers regressed somewhat for the Jazz last season in a smaller role, his production still justified more of a payday than this. At only $9.5 million per season, the Hawks (and their fans) should be thrilled.

Nowell: Good deal. In fact, a great deal. Paying $9.5 million annually for a starting power forward of Millsap's efficiency is good. A two-year deal is good. Replacing Smith with a less volatile player for $5 million less a season is good. All those goods add up to a great.

Schmidt: Good deal. It's very difficult to give out a bad two-year deal. Even if the Hawks are still trying to figure out which pieces they want to rebuild around in February 2015, Millsap will be an expiring contract who might net Atlanta an asset. Or he'll be a useful role player on a young, budding roster. Win-win.

[f_town]

good read...thanks

Go Hawks!

[Eddielives]

I'm thinking a lot of Hawks fans are going to realize after we see him play just how shrewd of a signing this was. MIllsap is considered by almost everybody in the media with credentials to be a very talented player and for what we paid, we got a very nice deal.

[Ryaan]

I think it's a great deal, paint player, good rebounder and a smart player all around.

[ATLSmith]

He's a good player and we need some grit and rebounding on this team. I know he's not an offensive force but the price is really what makes this a great deal.

Ferry is building a foundation of good players who don't chew up a ton of cap space. It's going to be interesting to watch how this evolves over the next two years into the signing of marquee free agents and the development of young talent.

[Diesel]

Nobody wants to mention his defense... ever.. and we're going to put him at SF where athletic wings will blow past him? I hope we have a shot blocker backing us up.

[Watchman]

Shouldn't this thread be merged with the one from yesterday (originated by sturt at 11:43 am) which referenced the exact same article?

Edited July 10, 2013 by Watchman

[frankthetank966]

Was this article published on opposite day? ESPN saying the Hawks got a good deal..

[GameTime]

He's a good player and we need some grit and rebounding on this team. I know he's not an offensive force but the price is really what makes this a great deal.

Ferry is building a foundation of good players who don't chew up a ton of cap space. It's going to be interesting to watch how this evolves over the next two years into the signing of marquee free agents and the development of young talent.

Dude has really good offensive skills. Good ballhandling for a big and good post moves.

[capstone21]

Nobody wants to mention his defense... ever.. and we're going to put him at SF where athletic wings will blow past him? I hope we have a shot blocker backing us up.

Where are you getting him being at SF? He will either be starting PF next to Horford or backup to PF for our starting PF/C (Horford would switch to center or just come in for Al). Maybe spot minutes at SF but I don't see him there full time.

[Watchman]

Was this article published on opposite day? ESPN saying the Hawks got a good deal..

See, miracles do happen. ESPN actually applauding something we did? Unbelievable.

[capstone21]

Here is what they said about Josh Signing

1. Good deal or bad deal: Josh Smith to Pistons for four years, $56M

Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN.com: Bad -- but not terrible -- deal. With the right team in need of a power forward, Smith could conceivably justify an average salary of $13.5 million. But the best value on Detroit's roster is its frontcourt tandem of Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. Smith will no doubt help the Pistons on the wing, but that's probably not the best long-term blueprint for the Pistons.

Andrew Han, ClipperBlog: Good deal. Smith might not seem like an ideal fit at first glance because Detroit has talented, young big men in Monroe and Drummond. But Drummond will be entering only his sophomore year and still needs a few more years of development. While awaiting Drummond's arrival, the Pistons have created a pretty talented frontcourt rotation that can even go big with Smith filling the small forward spot for stints.

Andy Larsen, Salt City Hoops: Bad deal. Smith has clear strengths: He's a great finisher (shooting 77 percent at the rim last season!), a good rebounder and a disruptive weakside-help defender. Those strengths dictate that he needs to be close to the basket to wreak havoc, which figures to be difficult in Detroit when playing with Monroe and Drummond.

Danny Nowell, Portland Roundball Soc.: Bad deal. Good player, and an occasionally great one, but Smoove's skills are a terrible fit with the rebuild underway in Detroit. A woeful shooter and a creative passer, Smith is a no-brainer for a team with frontcourt defensive needs and a lot of floor spacing. The Pistons are the opposite of that.

Jeremy Schmidt, Bucksketball: Bad deal. The money isn't bad. For a player with the statistical profile of Smith, it's something of a bargain. But Smith doesn't play a game that suits new bigs Monroe and Drummond very well. He doesn't exactly come across as the leader who can steer Detroit's youth movement in the right direction either.