Over a week after agreeing to terms with him on a one-year, minimum-salary deal, the Nets have officially signed free agent big man Paul Millsap, as our JD Shaw tweets. The team has issued a press release confirming the signing.
A four-time All-Star, Millsap has seen his role reduced in recent years during his second decade in the NBA. He spent the last four seasons in Denver, averaging 9.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 1.8 APG on .476/.343/.724 shooting in 56 games (20.8 MPG) in 2020/21. Most of those per-game averages were his lowest marks since 2007/08.
Still, Millsap remains a solid, reliable frontcourt option who can help stabilize a defense. The Nets likely won’t lean on him to play a major role, since they’ll have a few other options up front, including veterans Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, and up-and-coming center Nicolas Claxton.
As we noted last week when Millsap first agreed to sign with Brooklyn, the 36-year-old received interest from a handful of other clubs, including the Warriors, Bulls, and Clippers, but ultimately decided that the Nets gave him his best chance to compete for a title.
The Nets now have 15 players on fully guaranteed contracts, plus DeAndre’ Bembry on a partial guarantee. David Duke (Exhibit 10) and Kessler Edwards (two-way) are also under contract, leaving two open spots on the club’s 20-man offseason roster. It’s possible that unsigned second-round picks Marcus Zegarowski and RaiQuan Gray could fill those openings, but Brooklyn’s plans for those rookies remains unclear.
Nuggets follower here. ‘Sap still has gas in the tank. Skilled, professional, good teammate. Is a better 3 pt shooter than he showed and can still be effective off the bench. He was overpaid his first years in Denver but underpaid last year. He’ll strengthen your bench and be good for your culture.
If the Nets sign their second rounders to Exhibit 10 contracts, does that affect the draft rights the team holds over them? If one is converted to a two-way, that player could be kept with the organization for two years. It appears a little murkier if the other gets an Exhibit 10 then has it converted to a G-League contract.
Guys who sign Exhibit 10 contracts and then become “affiliate players” by joining the team’s G League affiliate have to be waived from the NBA roster, at which point the team forfeits its NBA rights to the player.
So if the Nets want to make sure they retain their NBA rights to both second-rounders, I’d guess one will get a two-way deal and one will sign a G League contract rather than an NBA contract. On the other hand, if the Nets like Duke for that second two-way spot, maybe they’re trying to get both of those second-rounders to sign G League deals.
solid signing for them. they now have 2 guys (millsap,griffin) that could play small ball center and give them alot of different lineups
Harden/Kyrie/KD/Blake/Claxton would be my starting lineup
What’s wrong with starting Joe Harris at SF?
He shot 47.5% from 3-point range last season.
Defense.
GREAT signing.