The franchise did this by signing forward Paul Millsap to a two-year deal on July 10, 2013. At the time, it seemed simply like a clever and affordable signing to replace long-time Atlanta mainstay Josh Smith.
Teaming Millsap with Al Horford, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver saw mixed results to start. Millsap was the lone Hawk to make the All-Star game, while the Hawks sat at a middling 25-26 record at the break. Things got worse in late February as Al Horford suffered a torn pectoral muscle, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.