Well, not many people saw this coming.
Free agent forward Paul Millsap met with the Orlando Magic earlier today and came away with an enormous four-year, $80 million contract offer, ESPN's Chris Broussard reports.
Sources: @Paulmillsap4 met w/Orlando last night, was offered Mac 4 yr, $80 million deal. Millsap will decide Btwn ATL & Orl.
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 1, 2015
Millsap has spent the last two seasons on a very team-friendly $19 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks. There was no doubt he was underpaid, but a borderline max contract offer was not foreseen in free agency for the veteran despite another quality season.
Millsap put up 16.7 points per game along with 7.8 rebounds while shooting a very respectable 36 percent from 3-point range. His Player Efficiency Ranking of 20.10 was higher than more heralded big players such as John Wall, Al Jefferson and Chris Bosh.
Orlando has tons of salary cap space and a potential need at the forward position should free agent Tobias Harris skip town. There's even a rumor suggesting a sign-and-trade of Harris to Atlanta should Millsap sign with Orlando.
New Magic head coach Scott Skiles plans to implement a defense-first system in Orlando. Millsap, who isn't a banger down low but is tough and skilled, would fit well and add a much needed veteran presence to one of the NBA's youngest teams.
The Magic also drafted sweet shooting Mario Hezonja in the NBA Draft and are continuing to develop young guys such as Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo (why have we not started calling him The Home Dipo?) and Aaron Gordon. Adding Millsap would give Orlando an intriguing core.
