Denver Nuggets: How much of a difference does Paul Millsap make?
In theory, Millsap is a perfect fit on the Nuggets, who badly needed a versatile forward who could shore up their defense without compromising their spread, up-tempo style on the other end. But the partnership between Millsap, Nikola Jokić, and the rest of Denver’s young pieces never had the opportunity to flourish. Millsap missed 44 games with a wrist injury and was never truly integrated on either end of the floor.
In the 38 games Millsap did play, the possibilities of his impact were evident. The Nuggets posted a slightly below-average defensive rating with Millsap on the floor. Without him, they sunk to 25th in the NBA in points allowed per possession. He had his best 3-point shooting season since 2015 and gave Denver another reliable creator next to Jokić. The five-man unit of Millsap, Jokić, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris and Will Barton (the likely starting lineup this season) eviscerated opponents in limited minutes together.
Denver has the makings of a potentially elite offense. Jokić has been one of the best offensive players in the NBA the last two seasons, and the passing and cutting that has come to represent the Nuggets at their best aesthetically rivals any offense in the league. But the playoff race in the Western Conference will be unforgiving, and a team that can’t slow an opponent’s offense is one ill equipped for the challenge of competing in the playoffs. Millsap, even past his athletic peak, can still offer some of the defensive versatility and rim protection that Denver needs to survive out West.