08-09-2021, 10:33 AM
Here are Hollinger's PF rankings. I have moved on from Lauri as I don't think we have the best offer if we are interested. Question...even at his advanced age is Millsap out of our price range? I think he would be a nice pairing with Maxi. Both can be managed and not over extended.
[b]Tier 3: Midlevel guys[/b]
2. Lauri Markkanen, Bulls (restricted): $11,916,654 (23rd overall)
One of the offseason’s top mystery men, Markkanen has never quite blasted off in Chicago and proved a difficult fit in particular with Nikola Vucevic. Markkanen is a minus defender and doesn’t rebound nearly enough for a player of his height, but despite those deficiencies, there’s a lot to like. He’s a potent inside-outside threat who hit 40.2 percent of his 3s last season and nailed 58.2 percent of his shots inside the arc, pouring in 25.6 points per 100 possessions overall.
A restricted free agent, Markkannen is likely to have interest outside Chicago and may only have tepid interest from the Bulls. The latter depends in part on Chicago’s other cap room scenarios, but the Bulls could have enough room to do a renegotiate-and-extend arrangement with Zach LaVine if they let Markkanen walk. Alternatively, that money could be put toward a point guard, with Chicago already linked to a couple of the free-agent point guards we mentioned earlier this week.
[b]3. Paul Millsap, Nuggets: $11,284,924[/b]
Paul Millsap is 36 years old, but he can still play. While he doesn’t stretch the floor from the four spot as much as you might hope (34.3 percent from 3 last season and career), he’s still strong enough around the basket and on the glass at 6-foot-7 to be a net positive.
The question is whether Denver can afford to bring him back. Slotting both Millsap and Will Barton into their room under the luxury tax will be a tight fit, and in any event, the Nuggets might prefer using their midlevel exception (MLE) to bringing back Millsap at his age. Michael Porter Jr.’s development as the long-term starter at the four doesn’t help Millsap’s case.
Regardless of where he ends up, Millsap is likely looking at a one-year deal because of his age, but he could be a shorter-term overpay for a team with space that needs a quality four.
[b]Tier 3: Midlevel guys[/b]
2. Lauri Markkanen, Bulls (restricted): $11,916,654 (23rd overall)
One of the offseason’s top mystery men, Markkanen has never quite blasted off in Chicago and proved a difficult fit in particular with Nikola Vucevic. Markkanen is a minus defender and doesn’t rebound nearly enough for a player of his height, but despite those deficiencies, there’s a lot to like. He’s a potent inside-outside threat who hit 40.2 percent of his 3s last season and nailed 58.2 percent of his shots inside the arc, pouring in 25.6 points per 100 possessions overall.
A restricted free agent, Markkannen is likely to have interest outside Chicago and may only have tepid interest from the Bulls. The latter depends in part on Chicago’s other cap room scenarios, but the Bulls could have enough room to do a renegotiate-and-extend arrangement with Zach LaVine if they let Markkanen walk. Alternatively, that money could be put toward a point guard, with Chicago already linked to a couple of the free-agent point guards we mentioned earlier this week.
[b]3. Paul Millsap, Nuggets: $11,284,924[/b]
Paul Millsap is 36 years old, but he can still play. While he doesn’t stretch the floor from the four spot as much as you might hope (34.3 percent from 3 last season and career), he’s still strong enough around the basket and on the glass at 6-foot-7 to be a net positive.
The question is whether Denver can afford to bring him back. Slotting both Millsap and Will Barton into their room under the luxury tax will be a tight fit, and in any event, the Nuggets might prefer using their midlevel exception (MLE) to bringing back Millsap at his age. Michael Porter Jr.’s development as the long-term starter at the four doesn’t help Millsap’s case.
Regardless of where he ends up, Millsap is likely looking at a one-year deal because of his age, but he could be a shorter-term overpay for a team with space that needs a quality four.
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