Understanding the Warriors interest in Paul Millsap
It is the time of the NBA offseason where many organizations are burnt out and looking for a break.
Most players, coaches, and team personnel are checked out of the league and relaxing until the start of training camp in a month. While free agency is still prominent, it is much less active, as most veterans will wait until training camp to sign.
The Warriors are continuing to do their offseason work and with recent reports of their interest in veteran forward Paul Millsap, they might not be done.
It has been noted that the Warriors have only two true centers on the roster, and Millsap could fill a similar role off the bench. Millsap isn’t a traditional center, standing at only 6-foot-8, but he could play a small-ball 5.
The Warriors’ interest in Millsap is intriguing. From the outside looking in, the Warriors frontcourt rotation seems set.
Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney or James Wiseman will likely start, while Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Andre Iguodala, Jonathan Kuminga, and Looney/Wiseman will soak up the minutes off the bench.
The Warriors are also going to play their “death” lineup with Draymond Green at the center position. Therefore, the front court seems to be fairly crowded. However, the Warriors frontcourt has a lot of position versatility.
Aside from Green, Bjelica, and Toscano-Anderson can both play on the wing, at the 4, or small ball center. Iguodala and Wiggins can also be primary ball handlers and play guard. With this position and role versatility, Millsap can fill another role or provide depth.
Millsap, 36, is a former four-time All-Star who has played in a lot of playoff games and has transformed his game into a quality role player with the Denver Nuggets over the past few seasons.
A former top player, Millsap settled in as a role player playing alongside Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordan, and Michael Porter Jr. Yet, Millsap was still playing few rotation minutes in the playoffs and seems to understand his role in today’s league.
Last season, Millsap played the least minutes (20.8) and averaged the least points (9.0) since his second season in the league. Millsap is not the same uber-productive player he once was, but he is still an overqualified role player.
Playing Millsap with Wiseman, Jordan Poole, Andre Iguodala, and Otto Porter would give the second unit a nice mix of veteran savvy and young firepower. The more likely scenario is Millsap playing the small ball center role while Wiseman recovers from his knee injury.
The Warriors have already improved their depth monumentally this offseason, and there will be role players who are pushed to the end of the bench. The Warriors will take the season to find their desired rotation by the time the playoffs come around in 2022.
Millsap also doesn’t seem inclined to make a decision any time soon, and the Warriors are competing with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls for his services.
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Regardless, Millsap is another veteran who once again views the Warriors as a championship contender and who may take the veteran minimum to chase that goal.