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Miami Heat: A 3-team Jimmy Butler trade proposition

By Simon Smith

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 01: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 1, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 01: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 1, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Nuggets outlook

Despite winning 46 games last season, the Denver Nuggets narrowly missed out on the postseason on the last game of the year. With an emerging young core led by center Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets rankld sixth overall with a 109.6 offensive rating. Furthermore, from Jan. 13 onward, over the final 40 games of their season, the Nuggets led the league with a 111.8 offensive rating.

One key piece missing for a good portion of the season was free agent acquisition Paul Millsap. Signed to a three-year, $91 million deal (third year being a team option), Millsap played just 38 games due to midseason wrist surgery. However, when available, his contributions were not fitting a player of his salary. Turning 34 during the upcoming season, and with over 25,000 career minutes on his odometer, time could be easily be catching up with the four-time All-Star.

While it’s possible Millsap can respond following a subpar season, the Nuggets also need to consider the team option on his current deal. If they were to pick up the final year of his deal, the Nuggets would be paying Millsap $30 million during the 2019-20 season.

Of course, the team could re-negotiate and bring back Millsap on a lesser amount. However, considering what he’s displayed over the course of his career, it’s still likely, despite his age, that Millsap would have a number of suitors on board should he become a free agent at the end of this season.

So while the overall outlook for Denver is onward and upward, the contract status of Millsap is something that will need to be resolved one way or another in the near future.

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