Hawks in: Bledsoe
Suns in: Millsap + Dennis Schroder
I don't believe that Danny Ferry is the kind of GM that would be complacent in being a perennial 7th/8th seed type of team. The Hawks at this point in time are what they are to me and don't exactly have a team with a few high drafted/high upside players waiting in the wings
A core of Millsap, Hortford, and Teague is actually not bad, however I think that most would agree that Teague at this point is pretty good, but has limited upside. (he's 26)
Meanwhile Hortford and Millsap are both nearly 30 and are well into their primes.
Also, Millsap is an unrestricted free agent next year and I doubt the Hawks would want to commit the kind of money that he would want. (they also drafted Adreine Payne and have another 4/5 in Mike Muscala)
Bledsoe strikes me as being super southern and would likely be pretty open to going to Atlanta with it being pretty close to his hometown of Birmingham
On paper, Bledsoe has a load of potential as a young two way player and maybe Ferry takes the risk that comes with him. Would Bledsoe maybe take a small pay cut to play in Atlanta? Who knows
I would prefer Hortford, but I see Millsap as the player that's more likely to go as Ferry will want something in return for him. I think you'd have to be crazy to trade Hortford for Bledsoe from an Atlanta perspective
Wanting Schroeder as well is probably hoping for too much, but I always loved him as a prospect. He has similar length to Bledsoe and is a pesky defender. While Bledsoe is much, much stronger and better at attacking the rim, Schroeder has Rondo-eque passing skills and is great at running the pick/roll and finding open players. Who knows if he ever pans out
Millsap has shown the ability to hit the 3 ball and is a pretty good defender that can provide some veteran leadership and lock up the 4 position. He gives much needed depth at the 4 position and some muscle in defending the post. I'm also confident that we would be able resign or extend him as well. His game is not too reliant on athleticism (neither is Hortford's)
Atlanta showed like year that they are going for a small ball, fast paced type of system similar to the Suns and Bledsoe certainly fits the bill.
At the end of the day, I'm 90% sure that Bledsoe is a Sun next year on that 4 year contract, as taking the QO would be fucking asinine but this is by far my favorite trade. I also would hate signing him to a shorter deal as the threat of his looming free agency/departure would always be hanging over the team.
I would also get tired of booing him at the games.
If I were a Hawks fan I probably wouldn't like this trade but what do I know.
Some will say why commit money to an older player? Because I believe if you want to get anywhere in the playoffs, you need some older players and it's not like Millsap is even that old. Look at what Randolph's been doing in Memphis
What do you think?
p.s We're not getting Hortford and if I ever hear Greg Monroe's name brought up again I will puke