The Atlanta Hawks magical season came to end when the Cleveland Cavaliers swept them in the Eastern Conference finals. It certainly was not the way the team expected to go after winning 60 games during the regular season. However, no one expected them to be there in the first place which means the Hawks have a foundation building they intend to grow. The issue is expiring contracts which the Hawks have two key ones coming up in the offseason. Both Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll could be in or out for the 2015-16 season.
Entering free agency, the Hawks are set to have about $23 million in salary cap space to work with. Millsap is expected command a max contract while Carroll's predicted worth is around four years and $50 million. The Hawks cannot afford both players at the present moment unless someone takes a pay cut or they release other contracts. Millsap made it clear that he would think heavily about returning to Atlanta, calling the team family.
"I think looking at different options, looking at this team, looking at what we've built thus far, in weighing my options I can't make a decision right now," Millsap said, via the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "It's been a long series, a long year, for me and the team. Let things die down, cool off, relax and think about it a little bit. We are a family. This team is close. It will play a lot into the decision."
Millsap developed into a star this season and will have plenty of teams eyeing him in free agency. According to multiple sources, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Boston Celtics could all be in play for the star. There is no denying that Millsap excelled in head coach Mike Budenholzer's system and could be the focal point of the offense next year, potentially pushing the Hawks even further than what they achieved this season.
Carroll is another star in the making, earing defensive honors while becoming a top threat for Atlanta. He too has teams eyeing his abilities and will need to make a decision on whether or not to come back to Atlanta. Carroll has given no hints towards his future. ESPN.com notes that it will be difficult to determine Carroll's worth, but he certainly raised his price tag this season.
In order to retain both players, the Hawks will likely have to let a few contracts go. ESPN predicts that both Mike Scott and Shelvin Mack could find themselves in the mix as they would create $5.8 million in space. With a new ownership in place, anything could happen with Atlanta. Budenholzer told the media earlier in the year that his goal was to keep the core intact and build off of what has been accomplished over the past two seasons. Those two years have shown a lot of growth for the Hawks and bringing back Carroll and Millsap means it could easily continue.
