NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 potential destinations for Paul Millsap
By John Buhler
Minnesota Timberwolves
West, Northwest
There is one team that could be significantly better next year if they upgrade one position. If the Minnesota Timberwolves get power forward right, we should expect Tom Thibodeau’s team to end its league-worst playoff drought in 2018.
Since Thibodeau is a defense-first coach, he’ll want a player stout on that end of the floor. It is also imperative that incoming power forward be able to play alongside the young stars Minnesota already has in center Karl-Anthony Towns and small forward Andrew Wiggins. Minnesota would have to be a serious contender to sign Millsap this summer.
Millsap hasn’t played with that many stars in his NBA career. Deron Williams was great for a few years in Utah. Al Horford was solid in Atlanta, but the idea of playing with Towns and Wiggins could be massively appealing for Millsap in the last stages of his basketball prime.
Minnesota would love Millsap’s maturity and lunch pail work ethic. He’d be an outstanding example for the young Timberwolves how to play at an All-Star level on both ends of the floor. This is an appealing situation for Millsap somewhat in the short-term, but definitely in the long-term.
However, there are three reasons Millsap may not want to sign with the Timberwolves. First, he wouldn’t be an All-Star player anymore playing in the Western Conference. Second, Millsap would have to take presumably less money to go to the Timberwolves. They will have to pay Towns and Wiggins here soon. Third, Thibodeau tends to break players physically with his defensive teachings. Not sure Millsap wants to break down completely before his 35th birthday.