BIG Potential Brooklyn Nets Trade Targets

Dwight Howard

Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap, Pau Gasol
Utah has a glut of power forwards. Would they deal Paul Millsap? (AP)

Tale of the tape: The 27-year-old, 6’8″, 245-lb. Paul Millsap averages 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per 36 minutes this season, shooting 48% from the field with a 49.2% effective field goal percentage and a 20.5 PER. Millsap is on a Utah roster that boasts Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Al Jefferson — three superbly talented big men — and there has been speculation that Millsap could be the odd man out should Utah decide to build for the future.

Contract: Millsap is owed roughly $8.6 million in 2012-13 and is an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Roundtable:

 
Sandy Dover: Millsap would be a great fit anywhere. He’s talented and hardworking, and could process any kind of role offensively and defensively. He’d instantly be Gerald Wallace’s complement. I believe the Brooklyn Nets have very little chance at getting him, because of what he means to the Utah Jazz, but as long as we’re talking Utah, Al Jefferson would be a great for Brooklyn — and he’s available.

John Hood: Not a good fit. Millsap game resembles that of Brook Lopez’s too much. Millsap has a solid mid-range game but most of the time he plays with his back to the basket. The Brooklyn Nets have made it clear that they run their offense through Lopez so adding Millsap, who is also an average rebounder at best, would create a logjam in the paint. The Nets can put together a realistic package, but I don’t see the Jazz swapping out Millsap for the more expensive Humphries.

Devin Kharpertian: Hard to argue against Millsap’s ability or production: he can shoot, rebound well enough, and defend. The only issue here is that anything Brooklyn can offer doesn’t help Utah in the slightest. Have a logjam at power forward? Here, take Kris Humphries or Mirza Teletovic! Doesn’t really work. As much as I’d like to see a Millsap/Lopez frontcourt in action, it’s highly doubtful it’ll come to pass.

Benjamin Nadeau: In a frontcourt that already boasts Favors, Kanter and Jefferson, it’s hard to believe that the Jazz will keep Millsap past this year. If the Brooklyn Nets could acquire Millsap for, dare I say, Brooks and Humphries, then go for it. Getting a capable PF with offensive skills would spread the floor for Lopez and give Williams another reliable option in a pick-and-roll offense.

Max Weisberg: Millsap is probably the most realistic option. He’s got an $8.6 million expiring contract, meaning that if the Jazz don’t trade him, he’ll probably walk. He’s been getting less and less playing time in favor of Derrick Favors (remember him?), and it appears he’s not too pleased about it. Millsap is a strong power forward with an excellent touch around the rim, and can also step outside the paint to knock down a 15-17 foot jumper. Having played with Deron Williams before can’t hurt, either. Getting him will be tough, but a strong friendship between Billy King and Jazz GM Kevin O’Connor can’t hurt.

Next: Josh Smith