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Six NBA teams fading down the stretch

NBA draft, Paul George trade

Atlanta Hawks

Courtesy of USA Today Images

Paul Millsap missed eight games from March 18 to April 1. The Hawks lost six of them, along with the two preceding the power forward’s injury and the lone game they’ve played with him back in the lineup. As a result, Atlanta is barely over .500 and hanging onto a playoff spot by a thread.

With Millsap off the floor, the Hawks have a -5.6 net rating this season with worse numbers across the board. During his absence, Atlanta had a -6.0 net rating, which would rank 28th over a full season. Should he leave in free agency after this season, the Hawks could be forced into full rebuilding mode.

The teardown has already started. Millsap is the lone starting player remaining from the 60-win team of 2014-15. Small forward DeMarrre Carroll, power forward Al Horford, shooting guard Kyle Korver and point guard Jeff Teague are all gone.

Their move for center Dwight  Howard hasn’t done much for the team’s overall prospects — just look at where they are in the standings — and building around the likes of point guard Dennis Schroeder and power forward Taurean Prince may be inevitable.

At this time, Atlanta isn’t scaring anyone.

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