What the Nuggets decide to do with Jerami Grant and Paul Millsap provides an intriguing subplot to the offseason, Mike Singer of the Denver Post writes. Millsap will be an unrestricted free agent and Grant can join him on the market by declining his $9.35MM option. Grant is undersized at the power forward spot but brings more agility and shot blocking to the four spot. The Nuggets will probably try to re-sign Grant but could also bring back Millsap if he’s willing to meet their price, Singer adds.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony is still too distraught over Kobe Bryant’s passing to take the court, especially at the Staples Center. Anthony will sit out the Portland-Los Angeles Lakers game on Friday, Stadium’s Shams Charania tweets, as he continues to grieve over the loss of his close friend.
- The Jazz are close to returning point guard Mike Conley to the starting lineup, according to Charania. Conley has come off the bench in six games since he recovered from an aggravated hamstring strain. Utah wants Conley to reestablish chemistry with the other starters, most notably backcourt partner Donovan Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert, Charania adds.
- The lack of a good plan regarding their point guard rotation has been the Timberwolves’ biggest issue, Michael Rand of the Minneapolis Star Tribune opines. Jeff Teague wasn’t a good fit prior to being traded to Atlanta because Minnesota needed a floor leader adept at pushing the tempo. Shabazz Napier has been a good pickup but he’s probably best suited for a 15-20 minute backup role while Jordan McLaughlin is more of an emergency backup than a second-unit player, Rand adds.
Melo played the other night against Houston. Weird he didn’t sit out then
Excellent point. How exactly is he still too distraught over Kobe’s death to take the court when he just played on Wednesday? Very Weird.
What better way to honor Kobe Bryant than **not** playing basketball in on his home court?
As sad as the Kobe tragedy has been, there’s a LOT of drama queens in the NBA.
I’m guessing that Kobe would want his friends around the league to man up and play the game.
Who knew Kobe had 400 best friends?
No kidding.
Nuggets should try to resign Grant and Plumlee, and take a pass on Millsap almost regardless of price. Grant doesn’t carry the typical body mass of a PF, but his length is well above baseline for the position and he’s strong enough match up defensively on 1-5. His defensive flexibility allows he and MPJ to play together effectively, because Grant can guard 3’s and MPJ can shoot like one.
Grant is a good complement to Porter. Maybe that’s how he is being coached.
Yeah agree about keeping Grant because of the shot blocking and his fit with MPJ.
Maybe in the future MPJ and Grant become the starting forwards with Barton going back to his impact bench role. Malik Beasley most likely won’t be coming back next year so Barton’s shooting off the bench will be needed.
Maybe bring back Millsap if he’s not going to ask for to much I think a 1 year 10 mil deal would be good for him.
Have a really solid bench unit of Morris, Barton, Craig, Millsap and Plumblee
Good ideas, though offering Millsap a 1+1/$25MM would ensure keeping him. He can always be a Plumlee replacement, another FA.
I thought Grant would be paired as a finisher for Jokic passes or to space with baseline 3s. But I suspect Jokic was not motivated and Millsap pushed him around.
A lot of people making me sick for questioning how people should grieve. He didnt travel to LA. Obviously, the idea of being there is too hard to take right now, especially considering Kobe was supposed to be at that game
Kobe would have shaken his head at this and called Melo soft and a loser.
Where were you when Kyrie showed up to the building, was told what happened, and immediately turned around and left without saying anything? You’re just a Melo hater, and its ridiculous, especially at a time like this