Boston Celtics: “Pass or Pursue” on 3 recently linked free agent targets
By Mark Nilon
Boston Celtics target No. 1) Paul Millsap
Over the years, we at the site have actually been big advocates for a Paul Millsap sighting in green and white threads and, last free agency period, we even deemed the power forward landing in Beantown as part of a “perfect offseason” for the franchise.
Ultimately, Millsap opted to re-up with the Denver Nuggets on a one-year deal, which will lead him into unrestricted free agency come this summer.
With this, many could realistically fall under the impression that we have kept our opinion on a union between the veteran and the Boston Celtics. Now, while financially a guy like Millsap would make sense, for he likely will be sought after by most teams for no more than the mid-level exception, to even our own writer’s surprise, I find myself singing a completely different tune.
Though it’s just one year removed, and though he is just one year older than he was whence I last discussed him being an ideal fit, by the mid-way point of next season he’ll be 37 years old and already he is showing signs of serious regression in his game.
While Millsap still finds himself shooting at impressive clips of 49 percent from the floor and 37 percent from deep, overall it’s quite evident that he’s grown slower on both sides of the ball and has found himself relegated to a bench role where his minutes have begun to dwindle rapidly.
This Celtics team is in a win-now mode and, while his veteran leadership and ample postseason experience might be beneficial as a bench player, when utilizing the MLE they’ll want to look into getting a difference-maker that can be relied upon physically on the court as well as vocally on the sidelines.
While we still wouldn’t necessarily mind the idea of Millsap coming to Boston next season, by no means do we believe the mid-level exception should be tossed into the mix.
Believe me, it pains me to say that, for I love me some Paul Millsap.