Will Danny throw big money at Paul Milsap in Free Agency? Position of need?

[chambers]

He turns 32 in February but like Al Horford, he's aging very well and a late bloomer as far as reaching his prime is concerned.

We need another All Star caliber big man and yeah he played for the Hawks, but he's a massively good opportunity to sign.
We'd basically be the hands down best defensive team in the NBA.

My question is how much would we be willing to spend on him, and for how many years?
I'd like to offer him a 2 year max deal, but someone may offer him 4 years and max money.
I wonder what it would take to get him here and would he take a small discount like 4 years x$20 million.

Side note- please don't rave on about how we become the Boston Hawks or ATL 2.0 because or guards and wings are far superior overall players than Korver, Teague and Bazemore, and our bench is far stronger.

Let's remember this guy was recently on the All NBA defensive team with Avery Bradley.

IT
Bradley
Crowder
Milsap
Horford

with

Smart
Olynyk
Brown
Jerebko
Zeller
Rozier

is a brutally tough team. Somehow add Paul George or Jimmy Butler to this group and you have one of the greatest defensive teams of all time.

[Monkhouse]

We need a center... Someone that can bang down low, and create havoc be it passing in the post or double teams...

Millsap is a great two way, and probably the best PF still available on the market with Blake Griffin's injury history, but I'm not convinced he's going to move the needle much for us. Yes we'll be a dangerous team, but why wouldn't we just go for Hayward then, and just small ball Crowder at the 4?

[trickybilly]

Someone gives him a max deal..

Sac should get him at the deadline though, make a big playoff push as a last ditch attempt to keep Boogie.

[Androslav]

Someone gives him a max deal..

Sac should get him at the deadline though, make a big playoff push as a last ditch attempt to keep Boogie.

Sound very rational.
But the deal will be nixed cause Vlade wouldn't give up on the Bojan Bogdanović's draft rights. LOL

I am much higher on the Hayward possibility.
He is younger, rangier and basicaly the player whole league will need for at least the next 5 years (trade value)

[NHCelticsFan]

Someone gives him a max deal..

Sac should get him at the deadline though, make a big playoff push as a last ditch attempt to keep Boogie.

Sound very rational.
But the deal will be nixed cause Vlade wouldn't give up on the Bojan Bogdanović's draft rights. LOL

I am much higher on the Hayward possibility.
He is younger, rangier and basicaly the player whole league will need for at least the next 5 years (trade value)

Would love Hayward, but I don't see him leaving Utah.  They are in 4th place right now and with the new CBA they can offer him a much better deal.

Would definitely give him the big contract though if he hits free agency.

[mctyson]

The whole issue with Atlanta was that Milsap and Horford were kind of redundant.

[Csfan1984]

The whole issue with Atlanta was that Milsap and Horford were kind of redundant.

The issue with Atlanta was they didn't have LeBron James.

[nickagneta]

If Atlanta would move Milsap to Boston for KO, Amir Johnson and the Memphis pick. I would do it. Its expiring contracts for expiring contracts. I think Milsap makes the Celtics better this year and if no max level free agent is available this offseason, it would be nice to have Milsap's draft rights to bring him back.

IT/Bradley/Crowder/Milsap/Horford would be a top 5 starting unit in the league and over the next three years the Celtics could grow their future with a bench consisting of Smart/Rozier/Brown/2017 Nets pick/2018 Nets pick/Zizac/Yabusele/Nader

[saltlover]

Someone gives him a max deal..

Sac should get him at the deadline though, make a big playoff push as a last ditch attempt to keep Boogie.

Sound very rational.
But the deal will be nixed cause Vlade wouldn't give up on the Bojan Bogdanović's draft rights. LOL

I am much higher on the Hayward possibility.
He is younger, rangier and basicaly the player whole league will need for at least the next 5 years (trade value)

Would love Hayward, but I don't see him leaving Utah.  They are in 4th place right now and with the new CBA they can offer him a much better deal.

Would definitely give him the big contract though if he hits free agency.

It is more likely than not the CBA will have no impact on the deal he can be offered beyond the traditional advantages conferred by Bird rights.  But I do agree with the first part of your post.

[Androslav]

Someone gives him a max deal..

Sac should get him at the deadline though, make a big playoff push as a last ditch attempt to keep Boogie.

Sound very rational.
But the deal will be nixed cause Vlade wouldn't give up on the Bojan Bogdanović's draft rights. LOL

I am much higher on the Hayward possibility.
He is younger, rangier and basicaly the player whole league will need for at least the next 5 years (trade value)

Would love Hayward, but I don't see him leaving Utah.  They are in 4th place right now and with the new CBA they can offer him a much better deal.

Would definitely give him the big contract though if he hits free agency.

It is more likely than not the CBA will have no impact on the deal he can be offered beyond the traditional advantages conferred by Bird rights.  But I do agree with the first part of your post.

I guess the big part of his decision will lay in Utahs playoff results. If they bounce out of the 1st round, he will certaily look around with more urgency. We also have to count in all of Utahs financial juggling. Hill (someone they desperatly need) will ask for 20/25 mil $ per. Market will welcome a guy like Hill. 

[Bobshot]

If Atlanta would move Milsap to Boston for KO, Amir Johnson and the Memphis pick. I would do it. Its expiring contracts for expiring contracts. I think Milsap makes the Celtics better this year and if no max level free agent is available this offseason, it would be nice to have Milsap's draft rights to bring him back.

IT/Bradley/Crowder/Milsap/Horford would be a top 5 starting unit in the league and over the next three years the Celtics could grow their future with a bench consisting of Smart/Rozier/Brown/2017 Nets pick/2018 Nets pick/Zizac/Yabusele/Nader

I wish it were that easy. The Hawks probably want one of those Nets picks. Would they take a lower pick and those expiring contracts?

One thing for sure. Ainge has too many guards, and too few forwards.

He needs to sweeten the pot with Rozier at least. I don't know what the Hawks are expecting.

Millsap is a classic Celtics player. He fits like a glove. Get him, Danny.

[Bobshot]

The whole issue with Atlanta was that Milsap and Horford were kind of redundant.

Both are the kind of players Stevens loves.

A lot of posters like Hayward. I question his toughness and defense. Which they are lacking up front.. Plus he's a 3, which they are strong in--with Crowder and Brown.

[Ilikesports17]

If Atlanta would move Milsap to Boston for KO, Amir Johnson and the Memphis pick. I would do it. Its expiring contracts for expiring contracts. I think Milsap makes the Celtics better this year and if no max level free agent is available this offseason, it would be nice to have Milsap's draft rights to bring him back.

IT/Bradley/Crowder/Milsap/Horford would be a top 5 starting unit in the league and over the next three years the Celtics could grow their future with a bench consisting of Smart/Rozier/Brown/2017 Nets pick/2018 Nets pick/Zizac/Yabusele/Nader

I wish it were that easy. The Hawks probably want one of those Nets picks. Would they take a lower pick and those expiring contracts?

One thing for sure. Ainge has too many guards, and too few forwards.

He needs to sweeten the pot with Rozier at least. I don't know what the Hawks are expecting.

Millsap is a classic Celtics player. He fits like a glove. Get him, Danny.

as far as Im concerned we have 8 core pieces.

Horford Thomas Brk '17 Brown Brk '18 Bradley Crowder Smart

Im not giving up any for a 30 year old expiring who doesnt make us a real contender (in my opinion)

[Big333223]

Millsap will be 32 before the end of the season. If he leaves Atlanta in FA I assume he'd demand a 4 year max. And as a stretchy 4, I also assume he'd get it from somewhere. Which means that whoever signs that deal will be paying him max money until he's 36 years old.

There was a bunch of hand-wringing about Horford's contract last summer (and still is) but Millsap is a year and a half older, the contract will start a year later, and will be for more money. Probably not a good idea.

[Bobshot]

If Atlanta would move Milsap to Boston for KO, Amir Johnson and the Memphis pick. I would do it. Its expiring contracts for expiring contracts. I think Milsap makes the Celtics better this year and if no max level free agent is available this offseason, it would be nice to have Milsap's draft rights to bring him back.

IT/Bradley/Crowder/Milsap/Horford would be a top 5 starting unit in the league and over the next three years the Celtics could grow their future with a bench consisting of Smart/Rozier/Brown/2017 Nets pick/2018 Nets pick/Zizac/Yabusele/Nader

I wish it were that easy. The Hawks probably want one of those Nets picks. Would they take a lower pick and those expiring contracts?

One thing for sure. Ainge has too many guards, and too few forwards.

He needs to sweeten the pot with Rozier at least. I don't know what the Hawks are expecting.

Millsap is a classic Celtics player. He fits like a glove. Get him, Danny.

as far as Im concerned we have 8 core pieces.

Horford Thomas Brk '17 Brown Brk '18 Bradley Crowder Smart

Im not giving up any for a 30 year old expiring who doesnt make us a real contender (in my opinion)

I agree, but would exclude the draft picks. They are gambles at this point. Hypotheticals.
Especially with the lottery.

No sense in giving up a core player unless it makes possible signing both IT and Millsap.

I'm not as much concerned about age with Millsap, because he's the kind of vet they need to lend some balance to the team. I don't know how many more 19yos they can absorb and still improve short range. And this team is now in a short 2-3 yr range mode. Maybe shorter if they can land the right players.

Short range, their aim should be to beat Toronto. Makes no sense to have to play the Cavs 1st round every year. They got to get good enough to beat Toronto--now.