Denver Nuggets: 3 Expectations for Paul Millsap

Fresh off of the Nuggets Media Day it’s time to look at how we expect the Nuggets players to grow and what we think they can accomplish.

When the Nuggets made Paul Millsap their biggest free-agent signing in quite some time before the 2017-18 season, they knew his impact would be immediate.  Statistics bear out the fact that the Nuggets are a better team when Millsap is in the game than when he is not.

It’s widely believed that this is Paul’s final season, that the Nuggets will not pick up his option after the season, looking to spend the money on a younger player or however the scenario plays out.  It’s unclear whether Millsap has a long-term role with the team but as mentioned, the Nuggets are demonstrably better with Millsap on the floor.

More specifically, Nikola Jokic is better with Millsap on the floor.

So, we know that they are better with him but we don’t really know him.  Injury cut his first campaign in Denver just 14 games into the season and just as the Nuggets were starting to roll.  Again, after his return, there was an adjustment period and then the Nuggets and Jokic went on a tear.

Given what little familiarity we have with his game in Denver, his expectations are somewhat obvious: