Nuggets Free Agency: The many benefits of the Paul Millsap deal
By Tom West
The Denver Nuggets got the All-Star they wanted by adding Paul Millsap in NBA free agency, which has a host of benefits for the team both on and off the floor.
The Denver Nuggets probably got their biggest NBA free agency signing in franchise history when they agreed to a three-year, $90 million deal with All-Star Paul Millsap. There’s so much to love about this acquisition if you’re a Nuggets fan, from the financial technicalities of the deal to Millsap’s on-court fit in so many areas of the game.
So, let’s dive straight into everything and break things down in a bit more detail, starting with how good the contract is.
1. Cap flexibility
Millsap signing for only three years rather than a full four-year max leaps off the page right away. There was obviously lacking interest from teams to pay out major money for Millsap (and many other players around the league due to the changing market for point guards, centers, and the general drop in cap space from a year ago), but it’s a fantastic bit of negotiating by the Nuggets nevertheless.
As if signing Millsap for only three years wasn’t good enough so that they aren’t tied to a $30 million salary each year if he suddenly ages poorly, the Nuggets somehow managed to add a team option on the third year, too. If Millsap does suddenly age badly when he approaches his mid thirties, then the Nuggets only have to pay him for two years.
Denver just landed a major talent upgrade with no major worry of his salary screwing up their future cap situation. Now, if the Nuggets want to part with Millsap as early as the summer of 2019 when they can pay out big money to Gary Harris and Nikola Jokic, they can do. That flexibility makes life much easier for Denver.
Well, let’s get to the other benefits, starting with the avoidance of the three-team trade for Kevin Love and how it’s turned out perfectly for the Nuggets.