Will Atlanta Trade Millsap for Gay?

For the last few years, near the deadline and in the offseason, there has been countless rumors about Rudy Gay coming to the Hawks. Now, however, the struggling Hawks are showing that they still need a dependable isolation option down the stretch.

Teams have finally found a way to clamp up on Kyle Korver while clogging the lane so Paul Millsap cannot get off a clean shot. With the game hanging in the balance, the Hawks are still looking lost. When other teams are making a run, the swing pick-and-roll offense the Coach Bud runs fails due to the lack of energy, momentum, and confidence.

Can Rudy Gay be the answer the Hawks have been looking for? Here’s why trading Millsap for Gay makes way more sense than you might think.

Millsap’s Expiring Contract and Age

Paul Millsap came to Atlanta in 2013 and has done only wonderful things in his time here. He has been an All-Star every single season he has worn the Hawks jersey and has provided the fanbase with plenty of memorable moments. However, Millsap ( regressing and turning 32 in February) is on the last year of his contract.

Next summer, multiple teams are bound to offer Millsap max money, and the Hawks front office will be cautious not to overpay him if they make an offer. If he ends up signing a contrant (hypothetically, of course) worth around $23-28 million annually, then the Hawks would be well over the salary cap and without any progress.

With Millsap aging and the great possibility of him leaving, it is in the best interest for the team to trade him for Rudy gay.

Rudy Gay’s Offensive Ability

Rudy Gay can flat out get buckets. Throughout his career, the one certainty day-in and day-out was that he would find a way to get the ball through the hoop. Outside of his rookie year, he has never averaged below 17.2 ppg in a season. Not to mention, he is one of the most clutch players of this generation. Time and time again, he has proven that he is the man that can deliver the biggest shot of the night for his team:

His athleticism and ability to play the stretch 4 benefits the Hawks offense tremendously. He can run-and-gun and poster anyone at anytime; however, he can also play a slow-paced, grind-it-out type of offense. He could finally be the answer that the Hawks have been looking for. Of recent, the team has been looking lost at times on offense. Playing almost too passively, most possessions down the stretch seem to end with tough, contested, forced up shots near the end of the shot clock. With the addition of Gay, there will finally be a reliable and consistent option for Coach Bud to turn to. He will be the deciding factor deep into the playoffs.

Even if he isn’t taking the game-winning shot, his presence affects the defense. A frequent option that Bud likes to dial up with the game on the line is a 1-4 pick-and-roll with Millsap and Dennis Schroder. Recently, it hasn’t been as successful with men on defense clogging the lane. If this trade happens, however, whoever is guarding Gay will be so focused on his assignment that he won’t even be looking at the play.

Also, Gay will tremendously help Kent Bazemore and Tim Hardaway develop into the stars that we all know they can be. He brings leadership, and these potential lineups could finally get the Hawks over the hump in the postseason:

Rudy Gay’s offensive ability benefits the Hawks in ways that cannot be understood right away. In time, though, fans would understand just how valuable he is..

Clearing Money and Potential Add-Ons

The Hawks are currently about $5 million OVER the cap space. I emphasize the “over” because this is the first time since 2010 that they have been in this financial situation.

Let’s say that Paul Millsap re-signs for about $26 million per season. Putting cap inflation and Schroder’s new contract into account, the Hawks will be looking at about a $12 million debt to pay off. Now with Gay, who makes $14 million annually, the Hawks would find themselves right around the cap, which sets them up with great options.

Also, the Hawks could dump some players with Millsap and receive some solid prospects and picks. Here is the ideal scenario: