Paul Millsap: Hawks said I won't be dealt before trade deadline

[GameTime]

Quote

NEW YORK -- Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he has indeed been informed by team management that he will not be traded before the league's Feb. 23 trade deadline.

"Now everybody can stop talking about it," Millsap said after the Hawks' shootaround in Basketball City before playing the Nets. "I can stop thinking about it and just focus on basketball."

ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein reported earlier this month that the Hawks had begun to shop Millsap along with fellow free agents-to-be Kyle Korver and Thabo Sefolosha. The Hawks, according to league sources, began informing teams Monday that Millsap was no longer available in the wake of Atlanta's trade that sent Korver to Cleveland in exchange for Mike Dunleavy, Mo Williams and a 2019 first-round pick.

Asked if staying in Atlanta for the rest of the season is the outcome he wanted, Millsap said: "Oh yeah, absolutely. For me and my team, for us to really do something, I think that all the rumors (have) got to stop. I think we are at a good place right now during the season and our main focus is basketball and winning and winning big."

Millsap, who is in his fourth season in Atlanta, said he is used to hearing his name in trade rumors annually. However, the three-time All-Star admits that the uncertainty over his future was weighing on him daily.

"(Now) I can get on with just playing ... (instead of waking) up in the morning, look at the media and see what is going on," said Millsap. "I don't have to focus on any of that. I can focus on basketball, where I will be at for the rest of this year and try to win games for this team."

The Hawks have won a season-high-tying six games in a row amid the recent trade speculation entering Tuesday night's game in Brooklyn.

Millsap is widely expected to become a free agent in July by opting out of the final year of his current contract, which pays him $21.5 million this season.

"We'll see what happens during the summertime," said Millsap, who is averaging 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds this season. "I actually haven't thought about anything about that -- the summer -- right now. It has been about this season, trying to win big."

When asked if the roster is set moving forward through the trading deadline, Hawks coach and team president Mike Budenholzer said he currently likes what he is seeing from his team.

"I just know that we feel strongly about this group, we feel good," Budenholzer said at shootaround. "The collection of guys, the way they fit and play together, we have shown an ability to play well for long stretches and against good teams. We just have to maintain that for the rest of the year and we are excited about the group.

"Paul and I have a lot of conversations about basically everything. Paul has been a pro, he has been great and I think he really believes in what we are doing and we are just excited about this group. I am sure you can imagine and respect that those conversations are between Paul and I. If I told you (the specifics) then they wouldn't be between he and I. He is in a good place and I am always very open and very honest with him."

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18445455/paul-millsap-says-atlanta-hawks-told-dealt-trade-deadline

Edited January 10, 2017 by GameTime

[Guest]

 "Ayye Sap, you got Budz 'n them's phone nimber?  Dey forgot to call me.  Guys?"

[pimp]

If they want to win big , then they need to move Splitter ,Baze , and Scott , and bring in some guys that can help us compete.
Let Splitter come back and play 1 game so teams can see that he's healthy, then trade him before he gets hurt again.

[LamarHampton]

2 hours ago, pimp said:

If they want to win big , then they need to move Splitter ,Baze , and Scott , and bring in some guys that can help us compete.
Let Splitter come back and play 1 game so teams can see that he's healthy, then trade him before he gets hurt again.

I like the way this guy thinks. Good call @pimp.

Hell, even if we have to pull a Weekend at Bernie's with Splitter, let's give it a whirl to try and get some takers.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, pimp said:

If they want to win big , then they need to move Splitter ,Baze , and Scott , and bring in some guys that can help us compete.
Let Splitter come back and play 1 game so teams can see that he's healthy, then trade him before he gets hurt again.

Lol...literally this! Most teams audition players for a few weeks or a month..Splitter..1 game lol

[macdaddy]

Anyone trading for Splitter just want the expiring i would think.   Seems like Sap played his best when he was distracted by trade rumors though. 

[terrellgroup]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2686279-nba-trade-deadline-2017-10-early-predictions/page/4

 

i still feel Milsap will be traded , once I read this article , I now know, I am not alone.

[Sothron]

I'd rather keep Millsap than most of those offers. I don't see how the Hawks could trade him after Paul has come out and said to the public the team said they won't trade me. If the Hawks wanted to own that conversation they would have already said we didn't say that to him to the media.

[macdaddy]

19 minutes ago, terrellgroup said:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2686279-nba-trade-deadline-2017-10-early-predictions/page/4

 

i still feel Milsap will be traded , once I read this article , I now know, I am not alone.

The logic in the article is pretty suspect though.   They are saying that the Hawks are just saying 'up the ante' and the postulate that the Raps will only be willing to give " Millsap helps them make the most of it—provided he doesn't cost more than Terrence Ross, a pick and filler. "

Not sure that will get it done but what do i know.   I see no way that Denver or Portland trades for a guy who's going to walk at the end of the year.   What good would that do them?   

 

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Sothron said:

I'd rather keep Millsap than most of those offers. I don't see how the Hawks could trade him after Paul has come out and said to the public the team said they won't trade me. If the Hawks wanted to own that conversation they would have already said we didn't say that to him to the media.

Why would you trust what Sap or the Hawks organization say when you can trust Bleacher Report?  Rookie moov, Soth.

[Sothron]

8 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Why would you trust what Sap or the Hawks organization say when you can trust Bleacher Report?  Rookie moov, Soth.

I'm just a typical plebe.

[Watchman]

The way the article is worded, it sounds like he will not be traded before the deadline, but the day of the deadline is anyone's guess.

[Ropadope]

I really like Allen Crabbe (44% from 3) but what else would Portland have to offer that would interest the Hawks? Aminu? His offense is putrid. How does a PF shoot 35%??

[Sothron]

Just now, Ropadope said:

I really like Allen Crabbe (44% from 3) but what else would Portland have to offer that would interest the Hawks? Aminu? His offense is putrid. How does a PF shoot 35%??

I've always liked Myers Leonard. My wife is a University of Illinois grad so we watch a lot of their games. He has range and size. He used to have a good post up in college as well.  I'd def consider Crabbe and Leonard and a first from them. Crabbe is a good wing player, the Nets tried to RFA this past offseason.

[Ropadope]

2 minutes ago, Sothron said:

I've always liked Myers Leonard. My wife is a University of Illinois grad so we watch a lot of their games. He has range and size. He used to have a good post up in college as well.  I'd def consider Crabbe and Leonard and a first from them. Crabbe is a good wing player, the Nets tried to RFA this past offseason.

But he would be a backup C? Leonard would not be on the court the same time as D8. We need a serviceable stretch 4 to play with Howard.

Edited January 11, 2017 by Ropadope

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Sothron said:

I've always liked Myers Leonard. My wife is a University of Illinois grad so we watch a lot of their games. He has range and size. He used to have a good post up in college as well.  I'd def consider Crabbe and Leonard and a first from them. Crabbe is a good wing player, the Nets tried to RFA this past offseason.

Whu?

Miles Linnid (as Nique calls him) is an awful basketball player.  Awful.  Don't tell your wife I said that, but it's true.  Crabbe is only slightly better than Skip and he's on a worse deal.

[Ropadope]

5 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Whu?

Miles Linnid (as Nique calls him) is an awful basketball player.  Awful.  Don't tell your wife I said that, but it's true.  Crabbe is only slightly better than Skip and he's on a worse deal.

Crabbe is a legit shooter. Baze < 30% from 3....Crabbe > 43% from 3

As a matter of fact, Crabbe has been shooting at over 50% clip from 3 since December began.

Edited January 11, 2017 by Ropadope

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, Ropadope said:

Crabbe is a legit shooter. Baze < 30% from 3....Crabbe > 43% from 3

You're not wrong, however, POR desperately wants to trade him as badly as some of us want to jettison Skip.  

[Sothron]

18 minutes ago, Ropadope said:

But he would be a backup C? Leonard would not be on the court the same time as D8. We need a serviceable stretch 4 to play with Howard.

He can play stretch 4, he's slimmed down since college. He started falling in love with hitting threes and he can hit them. He also can block shots. He was really trending up. He isn't playing as effectively esp. on defense this season but I think that is fixable.

[Sothron]

18 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Whu?

Miles Linnid (as Nique calls him) is an awful basketball player.  Awful.  Don't tell your wife I said that, but it's true.  Crabbe is only slightly better than Skip and he's on a worse deal.

No, that is simply plebe talk there buddy. Myers can play. He just should get back to more dirty work inside and less wanting to live on the outside. Crabbe is a good player, really surprised you don't like him. I thought the Nets were smart as hell to go after him as a RFA. He can hit from 3 and plays excellent defense.