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Portland Trail Blazers showing interest in Ex Denver Nuggets, Paul Millsap

By Stevie Cozens

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 05: Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets passes the ball during the first quarter against the LA Clippers in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 05: Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets passes the ball during the first quarter against the LA Clippers in Game Two of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 05, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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NBA Insider Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer has shared that the Portland Trail Blazers are interested in signing Ex Denver Nuggets free agent Paul Millsap.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has shared on Twitter that the Portland Trail Blazers have interest in ex Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap.

Millsap just finished a three-year deal with the Nuggets and is now a free agent at the same time that Nuggets teammates Jerami Grant and Torrey Craig are. The Nuggets also have the maximum extension kicking in of young star Jamal Murray.

It is likely that as a small market team with the potential of reduced income with no fans in arenas, that the Nugget swon’t want to dip into the luxury tax; this would mean that they likely can’t bring Millsap back when the above free agents are considered.

For the Blazers, as O’Connor detailed above, they struggled with Anthony Davis and LeBron James in the playoffs in 2019/20. By bringing in someone with Millsap’s size and experience, they could potentially improve the Blazers’ 27th ranked defense from the 2019/20 season.

Millsap would need to take a significant pay cut, but I think he would likely take the midlevel exception starting at around $9 million a season.

This interest is positive for the Blazers; they need veterans who have size if they want to push for a significant playoff run in the 2020/21 season.

Next. Portland Trail Blazers: 4 players to avoid during the 2020-21 free agency frenzy. dark