With the Hawks unloading eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard in a cost-cutting move that will also send the 31st pick in Thursday’s draft to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Miles Plumlee, Marco Belinelli, and the 41st selection, Atlanta is officially entering a rebuild — a direction they’ve been cautious to turn towards in recent years.

Next to go is Paul Millsap, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer once he declines his player option. Millsap, 32, will be a wanted man this offseason and the Nuggets, who have engaged and tried to acquire Millsap in the past, are showing interest in the 6-foot-8 power forward again, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

There are three or four teams out there that are willing to give Paul Millsap a max-level contract and sources have already told me that the Hawks have already begun getting some feelers on Paul Millsap sign-and-trades. Teams like the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets are interested in Paul Millsap.

Denver nearly acquired Millsap last summer and expressed interest in trading for the four-time All-Star around February’s deadline. With max-level money available, Millsap is likely at or near the top of the Nuggets’ free agent target list.

The fact that the Hawks might be looking to get a return for Millsap in a sign-and-trade is interesting. Denver certainly has the assets to send back and will coincidently look to trim down and refine their rotation this summer. A sign-and-trade where Denver unloads some of their spare parts could be the start of a consolidation of sorts.

On paper, Millsap fits an obvious need for the Nuggets. He could slide in at power forward — their weakest position current speaking and provide a veteran leader and strong voice inside Denver’s locker room. He’d bring a renewed sense of professionalism to a young Nuggets’ roster.

On the floor, Millsap is unselfish enough to play within the pass-happy, free-flowing attack established last season with Nikola Jokic at the helm and can also cover for some of the 22-year-old’s mistakes on the defensive end. The Nuggets, who finished with the league’s worst defense last year, could use a leader like Millsap on that end of the floor.