The Denver Nuggets are surely happy to have locker room leader Paul Millsap back.
Per The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania, the Denver Nuggets are signing forward Paul Millsap to a one-year, $10 million contract. Millsap can earn more in bonuses, which have yet to be specified.
A 13-year veteran, Millsap spent the last three seasons with the Nuggets, averaging 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 0.8 blocks per game.
Free agent Paul Millsap has agreed to a one-year, $10M-plus deal to return to the Denver Nuggets, his agent DeAngelo Simmons tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2020
Millsap, per The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, ultimately returned to Denver because he didn’t want to uproot his family.
With Millsap’s return, the Nuggets retain a greater measure of continuity after losing both Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee to the Detroit Pistons. In addition, Millsap’s addition means that the recently signed JaMychal Green can slide down to center, playing behind superstar Nikola Jokic.
As far as intangibles, Millsap’s veteran leadership will be invaluable, as well as his toughness and experience. That’s perhaps the best aspect of signing him, as he’s a declining player at 35-years-old but a respectable stretch-four and interior defender whose experience and awareness they can rely on.
Denver’s defense will still take a hit without Grant though, unless they can find someone that guard the dominant wings found throughout the Western Conference — LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George.
Perhaps that player is their restricted free agent, Torrey Craig; not a lockdown defender but a tough one who can often handle his own against the league’s top players. Still, defensive stoppers like Wilson Chandler, DeMarre Carroll, Solomon Hill and Wesley Iwundu are remain available and could be signed as well in an effort to boost their potential on that end.
The Nuggets have one roster spot remaining.