Denver Stiffs - 2017 NBA free agency: Denver Nuggets’ rumors, signings, and trades

The Nuggets salary cap situation after the Millsap signing

2017-07-03T11:52:29-06:00

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Time to get into the financials

The Denver Nuggets are signing Paul Millsap. Huzzah, pheasants and ale for all! Denver’s signing of the marquee free agent marks the biggest signing from outside the organization in over a decade, and arguably ever (though I would not make that argument). It’s also one of the most expensive the Nuggets have ever handed out. In terms of per year, no Nugget has ever received as much as Denver will pay Millsap and in terms of total guaranteed only Kenyon Martin’s infamous 7 year, $92 million tops Paul’s deal. Because Denver was well under the salary cap, they don’t have to send out any players who are currently under contract to absorb Millsap’s deal. However, this is the NBA collective bargaining agreement, a tedious document filled with rules, exceptions to the rules, conditions, additions, munitions and superstitions (some of those may not actually be in the CBA). So naturally, it’s not quite as simple as it seems.

First a few quick notes on the table. Italics represents either a qualifying offer (QO) or a cap hold. Mason Plumlee’s number is his cap hold, not his QO. As his cap hold is higher than the QO, that is the one that gets calculated. Tyler Lydon similarly is reflecting his cap hold because he has not signed his rookie deal. If you want to get into the nitty gritty of why those numbers are what they are I will send you to Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ rather than spend 500 words explaining it.

The main take away from the cap as it stands right now is this: the Nuggets cannot sign Paul Millsap. WHAT?! How can this be you say, what is this rug that’s been pulled out from under me? Simply put, Danilo Gallinari’s cap hold prevents the Nuggets from signing Millsap for his $30 million per season deal because it takes up too much of the cap. Loophole you ask? Of course there is, this is the NBA salary cap. The Nuggets and Millsap have VERBALLY agreed to a deal but because of a league wide moratorium on roster moves, the Nuggets can not officially sign him until Thursday. What does it mean? Denver has until Thursday to either renounce Gallinari’s bird rights, release his cap hold (a move they will have to do regardless) and let him walk or they must move other salaries to be able to fit Gallo under the cap. Denver cannot renounce Gallo to make room to sign Millsap and then exceed the cap to re-sign Gallo, that’s kind of the whole point of renouncing a player. If they renounce him, which they have to do to sign Millsap unless they can work a sign and trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks, then the Nuggets have to have enough space under the cap to re-sign Gallo just like they would any other free agent.

Simply clearing off the cap holds of Gallo and Roy Hibbert does not clear enoguh space for the Nuggets to make one of the two follow up moves that they have been connected with. These moves are either re-signing Gallo or signing free agent point guard George Hill. As you can see, clearing out the Gallo and Hibbert cap holds leaves the Nuggets about $9.8 million under the cap after adding in the Millsap deal. While it’d be nice to get either Gallo or Hill for that price, it ain’t happening. Each of those players can command somewhere in the $17-$20 million range. So, the Nuggets need to trade away at least one player without taking salary in return (or at least the net savings needs to be right around $10 million).

There are two ways Denver can do this that would seem to make the most sense, depending on whether its Gallo or Hill they covet most (and no, without unloading multiple contracts Denver cannot get BOTH Gallo and Hill). If the Nuggets are targeting Hill which, given there are a lot of rumors swirling around Gallo to the Los Angleles Clippers and the Nuggets sought out a meeting with Hill in free agency right as it began, seems to be the more likely then a sign and trade with the Clippers for Gallo may be an option. The problem is that the Clippers are capped out and also need to dump salary to fit Gallo. Essentially for LA and Denver to both get what they want the Nuggets need to send out a guy like Darrell Arthur or Wilson Chandler while the Clippers need to send out a guy like Jamal Crawford or Austin Rivers. No matter what combo of players you use, Denver and LA would be asking a third team to take on over $20 million in salary to facilitate their deal, which is probably unlikely. The three team deal with the Clippers is far more likely if Denver strikes out on Hill and Gallo decides he prefers LA to the Nuggets. This would mean Denver would get no players or salary relief in return for Gallo going to LA, just one big fat trade exception.

The next way the Nuggets can obtain either Hill or re-sign Gallo is by doing a sign and trade with the Hawks. Atlanta is going to lose Millsap for nothing without a sign and trade so if they can return some assets that’s a good thing. However, they have to be the right assets. Trust me, Atlanta has no interest in taking back Arthur’s shaky knees and $7 million plus a year contract. They want young players and rotation pieces on good deals. The loss of Millsap’s cap hold and the earlier dumping of Dwight Howard give Atlanta plenty of space to operate under the cap so salary matching isn’t an issue for either side in any deal. Perhaps Atlanta would be interested in a return of Kenneth Faried, whose starting role just got taken by Millsap, and Emmanuel Mudiay, the former #7 overall pick who hasn’t panned out and would be left out of the rotation if Hill is signed. Faried is on a very fair value contract for a starter at around $13 million per and Mudiay still offers plenty of upside and potential at 21 years old that gets GMs salivating. The deal would also clear out over $16 million in salary for the Nuggets, which is enough to sign Hill and restricted free agent Mason Plumlee without hitting the luxury tax threshold.

A lot is being made of the length of the contract that Millsap signed and it should be. Getting him on a three year deal was crucial, having a team option on the third year is icing on the cake. The table above takes some assumptions. Gary Harris and Nikola Jokic’s estimated extensions are reflected here, as well as Plumlee and Hill’s estimated contracts. We’ve assumed Hill and Plumlee will get a similar deal in terms of length and structure as Millsap, IE 2+1 with the final year being a team option. We also are assuming Plumlee is finding a less than robust market for his services (which seems to be the case given there has been ZERO rumors about him thus far) and the Nuggets get him back on an affordable $12 million per deal, but it could be more. Finally, we’re carrying a contract for 2nd round pick Monte Morris as well as assuming the Nuggets keep all of their own first round picks over the next three years.

The 2+1 contract the Nuggets gave Millsap (and hopefully give Plumlee and Hill) allows them the flexibility to retain their young talent when those players start coming off their rookie deals. Denver had an anomaly last year by having three first round picks and signing all of them. That creates a situation where in 2020 the Nuggets have three players, potentially all of whom will be looking for raises, coming off their books. With the way Millsap’s deal is structured, he’ll expire at the same time freeing up that money to re-up guys like Jamal Murray, Juancho Hernangomez and Malik Beasley. The team option on the third year means the Nuggets can get out ahead of this if things aren’t going well or if they want to go another direction in making a push towards Finals contention. They could extend any of Murray/Juancho/Beasley in 2019 and cut bait with Millsap if they want to hop back into the free agency market a year early. If they can get Plumlee and Hill on similar deals that gives them just that much more money to work with.

Again though, the important thing was not to give out 4 year deals which would have saddled Denver with what likely would have been the most expensive year of those deals while the Nuggets are simultaneously staring up to three contract extensions in the face. Even if the Nuggets let Murray/Juancho/Beasley hit free agency, all of them would be restricted free agents and if the Nuggets are juggling onerous contracts for over priced veterans it will be very easy for another team to swoop in and offer a front loaded deal to one of the Nuggets young guys and severely hamper Denver’s ability to retain them.

All in all, from a cap stand point the Nuggets got a great deal with Millsap. Some will balk at the dollar figure but Denver did not give Millsap the max in terms of dollars or years. For an all star caliber player, 30% of the total cap is solid value, not great, but not terrible either and fact of the matter was the team had to spend the money somewhere. The options available to the Nuggets were get a guy like Millsap and hit at or near the cap, re-up their existing guys who fell short last season and leave unused space under the cap or make little to no signings and miss the salary floor again meaning they’d pay out the difference between their total salaries and the floor to the players. The Nuggets also aren’t bad enough with Jokic and the rest of the young core to totally bomb out so punting on the season in order to secure a top 5 draft pick wasn’t really an option either. Signing Millsap the way the Nuggets did improves the roster, makes the team competitive in terms of postseason births, uses the cap space effectively and maintains their flexibility to keep together the young core they’re building. Without a doubt, Tim Connelly, Arturas Karnisovas and the rest of the Nuggets front office made a swish with the Millsap deal.

Shout out to Basketball Insiders for the cap data. Every time I questioned one of their numbers I dove into the CBA and was able to find what obscure rule made their numbers correct.

Breaking: Nuggets sign Paul Millsap

2017-07-03T08:49:51-06:00

The Nuggets finally make a splash!

According to Shams Charania of Yahoo’s The Vertical, the Denver Nuggets and Paul Millsap have agreed to terms on a three-year, $90 million deal with a team option on the 3rd year. After a whirlwind first day of free agency and more than a year of trade attempts, Denver has finally gotten their man. Millsap is going to be a Nugget.

Free agent Paul Millsap has agreed to a three-year, $90M with the Denver Nuggets, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2017

The immediate reaction should be relief, followed by amazement. With everyone in the Western Conference loading up, and the Nuggets with ample cap space that was in danger of once again going unused, getting Millsap helps on both fronts. While certainly signing him should in no way be construed as putting Denver in the conversation of title contender, it does possibly give them the piece they need to get over the top and make a return to the playoffs next season after missing them the four seasons prior. Millsap will offer the Nuggets a veteran presence with plenty of experience while also being a stalwart on the defensive end of the court where the Nuggets struggled mightily last season. For a breakdown of his skills, click right here.

While not a shot-blocker, his effort and mechanics on defense are top notch. Players struggle to get by Millsap, whether in the post or at the perimeter and their shots rarely go uncontested. His outstanding positioning and instincts put him in the position to create turnovers and collect blocks when they are available. Additionally, Millsap is a strong rebounder, especially on the defensive glass.

Paul also will add to an already potent offense as well. He is a versatile weapon on the offensive end and will complement Nikola Jokic perfectly with his shooting ability. He has a solid post game and range out to the three point line to give coach Michael Malone a number of options as to how to use him the most effectively. If the Nuggets can also retain Danilo Gallinari, as Woj has reported they are interested in doing, then Denver’s starting lineup featuring Jokic-Millsap-Gallo and Gary Harris is incredibly potent regardless of who ends up manning the point guard position.

The knocks on Millsap are that he is past his prime at 32 years old and perhaps ready for a decline. For those who believe he is too old, remember that Chauncey Billups was traded to the Nuggets at 32 and put together a few more-than-decent years here. He was 14th in RPM, 16th in wins, and third in both categories for a power forward. Millsap’s game also isn’t predicated on athleticism, its more about solid shooting and craftiness in the post. That style of playing style tends to age well. While its reasonable to assume his defensive capabilities may start to slip as he gets closer to 35, Millsap is still likely to be a very good offensive player and at minimum an average defender for a long time.

It should also be noted that the Nuggets may not be done. While getting Millsap is a huge addition, Denver is still well short of even being considered a contender to host a first round playoff series. They also still have too many forwards on their roster and questions at the point guard position.

$30 Million per year for three years is about as perfect and reasonable a deal as Denver could’ve hoped for. The Nuggets will have to find extensions for guys like Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in the next two and three years respectively so they have to keep their long term cap space open. If things are going really well then Murray might be looking at a max contract of his own so getting Millsap and any other signing’s number off the books by 2020 is key.

While at this moment Denver is still a long way from hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy, the signing of Millsap does signal that the Nuggets are still adamant about competing for the playoffs. Granted it’s hard right now to see a way where Denver ends up one of the top seeds in the Western Conference, the Nuggets are right to have playoff aspirations with this roster. Millsap might just be the veteran to help push this club into the postseason for the first time in four years and with a properly structured contract, that playoff experience can be the start of something much bigger just a few years down the road. One thing you can say without a doubt, the Nuggets roster is better today than it was yesterday. Welcome to Denver Paul!

Why Paul Millsap is the perfect fit for the Denver Nuggets

2017-07-03T00:51:15-06:00

Locked On Nuggets

The Locked On Nuggets podcast is a daily NBA podcast covering the Denver Nuggets. Previous guests include Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler, Nuggets rookie Malik Beasley, CBS Sports’ Matt Moore, and much more.

In this episode, I recap a fun and exciting night for Denver Nuggets fans and discuss why I think Paul Millsap is the perfect fit on this roster. I also share what I think his value will be on the offensive end and in the locker room and where I think he will help guys like Gary Harris and Jamal Murray rise to a whole new level of play. Analysis includes some specific X’s and O’s about how his screening on off-ball action is so perfectly utilized in the dribble handoff offense that the Nuggets run through Nikola Jokic.

I also discuss the contract and how it fits into the team’s bigger picture with their young core and then focus on a few notes from around the team including an interesting tidbit on Jokic and Michael Malone, Gary Harris, and the start of summer league practices.

Don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes and be sure to leave a rating and review as those help me grow this show!

Twitter reacts to the Denver Nuggets signing Paul Millsap

2017-07-02T23:33:43-06:00

This was a good twitter day for Nuggets fans

The Denver Nuggets made a big splash in free agency by adding power forward, Paul Millsap. This is arguably the biggest free agency signing since Kenyon Martin back in 2004. Millsap is a four-time NBA all-star and one of the most well-rounded forwards in the NBA. He is an excellent defender in the post and on the pick-and-roll, he has a great mid-range shot and can even extend it to the three point line. He is a great passer for his position, averaging 3.7 assists per game last season to go along with 18.1 points per game.

Nuggets fans reacted with excitement, joy, and some much needed relief after over 24 hours for news to drop. Here are some of the best from around the web.

From the team

Sheeeeeeesh
— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) July 3, 2017

— Juancho Hernangomez (@juanchohg14) July 3, 2017

Big bro @Paulmillsap4 coming to Denver crazy I remember chillin wit ur fam after and before Haeks games now we teammates
— Malik Beasley MB25™ (@Mbeasy5) July 3, 2017

Okay he’s not on the team but still, this from Jared Dudley was great.

From the media

“Denver is going to be so fun.” ESPN’s Zach Lowe

“Millsap is an off-ball natural who contributes constantly without demanding touches. His off-ball screens occupy defenders on the weak side of the floor. His cuts come just after an opponent has diverted their attention, a dangerous weapon in Jokic’s orbit. Denver is positioning itself as a smart, balanced, read-and-react team. The chain reaction cutting and passing from Jokic to Millsap to players like Gary Harris and Wilson Chandler and Jamal Murray should prove impossible to predict and challenging to stop.” SI.com’s Rob Mahoney

“Millsap is, on every level, a player Denver needs...Millsap helps with rebounding, is great defensively, and he's a savvy player who can operate without the ball. Denver's offense is built on constant ball movement, and with Millsap, the Nuggets add a great scorer who also can deliver pinpoint passes. His court awareness is among the best in the league, and in an 11-year career he has never played fewer than than 64 games for a season.”

“The Nuggets have needed a leader among their best players, and Millsap provides that. He's a total pro who knows how to do his job and has played for winners in Utah and Atlanta.” CBSsports.com’s Matt Moore

I have been unfairly getting @Adam_Mares' hopes up about Millsap in Denver for months now. So happy for him and Nuggets fans tonight. https://t.co/rFpvXdvRXn
— Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) July 3, 2017

Millsap/Jokic is going to be that frontcourt everyone on here loves but no casual fans know anything about.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) July 1, 2017

“They even got some help from Millsap's old 4th grade teacher from Montbello. Millsap lived in Denver as a kid. Big time Broncos fan.” Altitude TV’s Vic Lombardi

“Team option on the 3rd year for Millsap makes this an EFFING STEAL” Fear the Sword’s Carter Rodriguez

“Give me all the Jamal Murray fantasy shares, btw. Coldest take of the day: Nikola Jokic is going to be awesome next to Millsap.” NBC Sports’ Michael Gallagher

“I'm happy for @denverstiffs and all the Nuggets fans. Millsap is a guy every coach in any era of ball would want to have on squad. evolves. Sap came in as an energy guy, and every year he added something new to his game. He's so well rounded, talented, and durable. A gamer.” @AllthatAmar of SLCDunk.com

The fans

So proud to be a part of #nuggetsnation !!! https://t.co/hTBZT7e9Zb
— Sebastian Waldron (@seb_waldron) July 3, 2017

This thread of reaction gifs is also worth the time it takes to scroll through. Feel the excitement!

Alright Nuggets fans, the wait is over. We got @Paulmillsap4!!! Send us your reaction gif. pic.twitter.com/fZapidh2p0
— Denver Stiffs (@denverstiffs) July 3, 2017

Rumor: Nuggets still in on George Hill

2017-07-02T23:30:18-06:00

Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

After signing Paul Millsap, though, they have to adjust the roster first

Now that Paul Millsap has been signed, the Denver Nuggets still have some housekeeping to do whether or not they sign another free agent - perhaps a point guard like George Hill. They have a glut of power forwards that will have to be cleared out for simple roster clarity and rotation streamlining. Per Kevin O’Connor however, Denver may still be trying to rearrange the roster and still add that extra free agent after all.

Expect the Nuggets to pursue free agent point guard George Hill, if they can dump salary (like Kenneth Faried & Darrell Arthur), per source.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 3, 2017

Pursuing Hill still makes plenty of sense for Denver, which can’t feel comfortable letting Jameer Nelson handle the point guard duties as he turns 36. Neither Jamal Murray nor Emmanuel Mudiay is ready for a playoff run as the dominant ball-handler at this point - Mudiay just hit legal drinking age four months ago and Murray won’t make it there until next year. Nikola Jokic makes a lot of things work for Denver, but he has trouble making it 30 minutes into a game; he’s certainly not playing 40+.

By adding Millsap the Nuggets have signalled their willingness to enter into the bloodbath that will be the 2018 Western Conference playoff chase. It’s unwise to do that with an unseasoned point guard no matter what kind of magician is playing center or how talented some of your young guards may be. Whether it’s Hill or another point guard (Eric Bledsoe, perhaps) the Nuggets have to both rearrange the roster and add that veteran at the point for when Jokic is on the bench.

Doing a sign-and-trade for their over-abundance of power forwards is hard with Hill though, since the Utah Jazz have very little use for most of them. They just traded Trey Lyles to Denver, in fact, in an attempt to clarify their own roster structure. The Nuggets may be working on a three-team sign-and-trade to get Hill into a Nuggets uniform or just attempting to move enough salary for future considerations (Faried and Arthur potentially as the tweet suggests) in order to sign Hill outright.

However it goes, it’s not really possible for Denver to stand pat with the roster as currently assembled. More changes are coming, Nuggets fans.

Stiffs Roundtable: Paul Millsap

2017-07-02T22:47:52-06:00

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

We could talk about how that restaurant must have been in Deliverance territory for the news to take this long, but let’s start here

First things first: how excited are you about Paul Millsap joining the Nuggets? Feel free to use a former Nugget as scale - Kosta Koufos-level excitement or more Alex English?

Gordon Gross (@GMoneyNuggs): I’m gonna go with Chauncey Billups level excitement at the moment. Maybe some of that is simply the wait over the last 2 days to get something done, but Millsap was just about the final impact player on the market I expected Denver to be able to get, and snagging him really shores up so many things and provides a great veteran presence and a very under-rated talent for this team. Not having to add that fourth year to the deal really helps my opinion of it too.

Adam Mares (Adam_Mares): This is incredible. I still can’t believe it. Consider that a few hours ago I was mulling whether or not a 4 year max was worth it, and now Denver got him for 2 years plus a 3rd team option. This is perfect. Nuggets fans will love Millsap. He is the blue collar hard working guy a la Kenneth Faried, Chris Andersen, Ryan Bowen only he has all-star level talent. The only concern was his age and him getting 4 years but Denver found a perfect deal for him. This is a great day to be a Nuggets fan.

Evan Fiala (@eefiala): I feel like Malik Beasley on the bench right now. I’m freaking elated. It feels so, so good to finally have legit hope in Denver basketball again. The only thing I’m bummed about right now is that it’s barely July and I have to wait four months to see him play with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and co. I’M PUMPED!!!

Would you rather have Millsap on this deal or one of the other available players Denver was not able to close (Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love or Paul George)?

Gross: With the other deals there would have been players going out, and the ability to sign another free agent. I’m still waiting to find out who might be coming back in that future consolidation deal to be able to judge the player pairing, but Paul Millsap might be a better fit than any of those players for what Denver needs. And I don’t think his age is an issue on the 2+1 deal.

Mares: It’s hard to compare those deals because they would’ve required trading players I really love, like Gary Harris and Juancho Hernangomez. The fact that Denver didn’t lose anybody in this deal is just amazing. I really like the core guys on this roster and they will be incredibly fun to root for.

Fiala: I think I like this deal the most because it just feels right. All those other guys are great players, but they also would have come in with some baggage and with controversy as trades would have been necessary, but then you see Millsap in a Nuggets jersey and it just makes sense. He’s not a player that requires a lot of fanfare, and I think Denver fans will come to love that about him.

The Nuggets have chosen to throw their hat in the ring and compete for playoff seeding in the incredibly-crowded West. Is that the best plan, or should they have torn it down and only played the rookie-contract guys while they build for the future?

Gross: I’ve said before that I think the Nuggets can compete now and later. They should be lining up 50-win years as they shape and reshape their roster around Jokic. There’s no law that says they have to wait 3 or 4 years to do that. Starting now is great in my book as long as it’s with the right investments, and I’m fine with Millsap helping Denver’s next playoff team. I wouldn’t mind relocating Denver to the East, though...

Mares: Of course this is the best plan. They have been climbing the standings for two seasons, now was not the time to step back. The West is as stacked as it has ever been but with some roster consolidation and maybe one more deal (George Hill, anyone?) and the sky is the limit.

Fiala: Yes. What good would it really do if guys like Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic can’t even get playoff experience? His veteran leadership, especially on defense, will be a huge difference maker as well. Tearing it down or playing the waiting game with Golden State would have been the worst move imaginable.

How happy are you with Millsap’s fit next to Denver’s future in Gary Harris, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic?

Gross: Millsap is a terrific defender without being the most athletic guy on the court. If anything can shape Jokic’s game and footwork over the next three years into being Gasol-like it should be playing next to Millsap. He should also help the backcourt make up for some of their defensive mistakes and work a nice pick-and-roll game with our young guards.

Mares: Near perfect. This isn’t hyperbole. It is rare to find a star with his talent that is also such a team player. Millsap can pass. He can shoot. He can post. He can defend the pick and roll like few forwards can. He hustles. He has a great attitude. He is perfect for Denver and will fit in well with the entire roster.

Fiala: What they said ^

How would you clear up the immense logjam at power forward that Denver now has with Millsap, Faried, Lyles, Lydon, Arthur and even some Wilson Chandler minutes there?

Gross: Is the wood chipper from Fargo available? I really don’t know. There’s either a significant trade or several smaller ones coming though. I think Chandler stays to split minutes at the 3 with Juancho Hernangomez and at the 4 with Millsap but after that it’s all up in the air for me.

Mares: This is the toughest obstacle still facing the Nuggets. If it were me, I would prioritize trading Faried, Darrell, Lydon, Nelson, and maybe Barton and look to add a point guard and small forward. But most of all, I hope they find the right mix of starters, becnh guys, and guys that aren’t upset if they won’t play. They already have 4 guys guaranteed to get big minutes in Millsap, Jokic, Chandler, and Harris and a handful of guys that should expect heavy minutes off of the bench in Murray, Barton, and hopefully Juancho. I’m not sure you need a bunch more talent, just consolidation to establish a pecking order.

Fiala: This is definitely where things get tricky. The only real solution is to just make it happen and hope to get a somewhat decent return while keeping the necessary depth. I’m not sure if Faried is the right guy to keep on the bench, so he will probably need to go for sure. Darrell Arthur’s days are probably over in Denver as well. Lyles could be a good backup forward to Millsap with Lydon waiting in the wings. Juancho will almost certainly get the call as well. Just cut some of the fat and things should work out.

5 things to know about Paul Millsap

2017-07-02T22:18:55-06:00

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Get to know Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap is a Denver Nugget. After an excruciatingly long wait during the first days of free agency, Millsap has agreed to a three year, $90 million deal. We already can’t wait to see the impact Millsap will have on the court for the Nuggets, but in the meantime here are five things to know about the Nuggets new power forward:

Paul Millsap is a damn good basketball player

Millsap might be 32 years old, but the dude can still ball. He’s a four time All-Star and low key one of the best power forwards in the game. He has been underrated for his entire career and is an advanced stats legend. In 2016-17, among all power forwards in the NBA, Millsap finished third in RPM behind only Draymond Green and Kevin Love. He was fifth among power forwards both in value added and estimated wins added. In 2015-16, he was sixth in PER.

He doesn’t have a flashy game, but he does all the little things and he does them right. He alone will help improve Denver’s poor defense, and on offense he is about as efficient as it gets. Last season, he averaged a career high 18.1 points per game. And he can be known to have huge scoring performances, like this:

He grew up in Denver

Millsap lived in Denver as a kid for a decade before his parents got divorced and his mom moved him and his brothers back to Louisiana. Her job in Colorado worked her long hours and she wanted a better situation for which she could watch over her rowdy yet immensely talented boys. After being away for nearly 20 years, Millsap is coming home!

They even got some help from Millsap's old 4th grade teacher from Montbello. Millsap lived in Denver as a kid. Big time Broncos fan.#nuggets
— Dr. Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) July 3, 2017

He didn’t start playing basketball until high school

Growing up, Millsap was a football player and was incredibly gifted. When his family moved to the tiny town of Downsville, LA, however, there simply weren’t enough teenage boys for a school football team. Instead, Millsap was almost forced to play basketball. As he would later tell Grantland, “It turned out it was the best decision I made.” We agree, 100%.

He is the only player in NCAA Division 1 history to lead the nation in rebounding three consecutive years

Millsap played for Louisiana Tech in college from 2003-2006. In that time, he averaged 12.5, 12.4 and 13.3 rebounds per game, leading the nation three years in a row in that category. Not only is he the only D1 player to accomplish that feat, he is the only NCAA D1 player to even win that award three times total. Even college rebounding legends Tim Duncan and Kenneth Faried only led the nation in rebounding just once in their storied careers.

His brother is also in the NBA

Two Millsaps? Paul’s younger brother, Elijah, is also a professional basketball player. Just like his older brother, Elijah was started his NBA career with the Utah Jazz after signing a 10-day contract with the team in 2015. He spent a year in Utah before being waived and bouncing around various foreign teams and the D-League before being called up by the Phoenix Suns in April and signing a multi-year deal.

Welcome to Denver, Paul!

Rumor: Nuggets closing in on Paul Millsap

2017-07-01T16:38:38-06:00

Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Denver is pitching the Atlanta Hawks’ forward tonight as other suitors drop out

The Denver Nuggets have been in pursuit of an All-Star caliber forward this offseason, with rumors linking them to Blake Griffin, Kevin Love and of course Paul Millsap. The first two are off the table but the last one is still in play, and it looks like the Nuggets might be in the home stretch of the chase.

First, the rumor hit that the Phoenix Suns were dropping out:

Suns indeed abruptly ended pursuit of Paul Millsap, who they were enthusiastic about last night. Price point too high. Helps Minny, Denver.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 1, 2017

Then, Denver’s pitch team solidified, and included a surprising, budding star:

Sources: Along with Josh Kroenke, Tim Connelly and Michael Malone, emerging talent Gary Harris joining Paul Millsap pitch in Atlanta today.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2017

And most recently there’s the rumor from David Aldridge that the Nuggets might have cornered the Millsap market:

Hearing MIN also may be out of Millsap talks, clearing the way for possible resolution w/Denver, meeting w/him tonight. Would be great fit.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 1, 2017

The Nuggets have been in the Millsap market since at least last summer, when there were rumors that the Nuggets would trade Kenneth Faried for him. That fell apart when Al Horford went to the Boston Celtics instead of staying with the Atlanta Hawks, but the Nuggets might have found the experienced All-Star forward with skills on both ends of the floor to play next to star center Nikola Jokic.

Signing Millsap would be both a boon to Denver’s hopes in the near future as well as a way to keep him out of Minnesota, thereby hurting an ascending rival as well. No word yet on price or length of any proposed contract, nor whether it would include a sign-and-trade to help clear up the current roster confusion.

Stay tuned for further developments.