Nuggets Roster & Starting Lineup if Paul Millsap Signs

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Nothing is official as of yet, but it sounds like four-time NBA All-Star Paul Millsap is close to signing with the Denver Nuggets.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has the most recent update on the team’s pursuit of the 32-year-old power forward:

With the Atlanta Hawks not expected to re-sign him, the Phoenix Suns dropping out of the race, and the Minnesota Timberwolves also possibly bowing out, the Nuggets look to be the clear front-runner. Again, no move has been made yet, but it’s still fun to imagine what the roster would look:

PG: Jamal Murray, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jameer Nelson, Monte Morris
SG: Gary Harris, Will Barton, Malik Beasley
SF: Wilson Chandler, Juan Hernangomez, Mike Miller, Vlatko Cancar
PF: Paul Millsap, Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, Trey Lyles, Tyler Lydon
C: Nikola Jokic
Free Agents: Danilo Gallinari, Mason Plumlee, Roy Hibbert

Philadelphia is likely going to be the Association’s most popular League Pass team in 2017-18, but the Nuggets won’t be far behind if they add Millsap.

The frontcourt alone would be so damn entertaining, starting with Nikola Jokic, who is easily one of the most entertaining young players in the league. Though he has the athleticism that you might expect from a guy who used to drink three liters of soda every day, his blend of ball-handling, vision and passing is thoroughly absurd for a player his size. Now you potentially add in Millsap, a guy who has been to the last four All-Star games and can stretch the floor and score in a variety of ways.

While he may not shoot it as well as Danilo Gallinari, who he would replace, Millsap is a much more willing and capable passer. The spacing and ball movement from this potential squad would be a joy to watch. Millsap is also a better defender than Gallinari, which is a necessary upgrade with Jokic’s inconsistency on that end.

And the rest of the roster is really fun, too. Gary Harris averaged 16.8 points on a ridiculous 53.3 percent shooting post-All-Star break last year, and the 22-year-old looks ready to transform into a star. Jamal Murray, still only 20 years old, has already shown glimpses of being a dangerous scorer. Wilson Chandler quietly averaged a career-high 15.7 points per game last year. Juan Hernangomez is an enticing young prospect, and there are a handful of other quality role players. A bench of Emmanuel Mudiay, Jameer Nelson, Will Barton, Hernangomez and Kenneth Faried will be one of the best in the league.

It seems like everyone is improving in the West, but this move would help the Nuggets keep pace. After narrowly missing the postseason last year, they look ready to end the four-year playoff drought.

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