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Paul Millsap article re-posted.
Posted by: Dave Leeky on October 25th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.I thought this article was very interesting, definately worth a read:
http://sportsmashup.com/2012/10/23/paul-millsap-wont-sign-an-extension-with-the-utah-jazz-and-thats-a-good-thing/
There are a few players in the NBA that can be seen as a mirror image of the team of which they play for. Kobe Bryant’s flash, attitude and will to win represents the Purple and Gold of the Los Angeles Lakers to a T, with a long history of winning, and a showtime moniker to match, the Black Mamba is Los Angeles Lakers basketball. Carmelo Anthony’s overpaid, underperforming and image conscious style of play matches the New York Knicks organization that under the tutelage of James Dolan has managed just one playoff victory over the past 11 seasons, despite consistently ranking amongst the league leaders in total salary. It’s no coincidence that Melo has made it out of the first round of the playoffs only once, despite receiving multiple max contracts.
For the Jazz, Paul Millsap is that mirror image type of player. Like the organization, Millsap is undersized, underpaid, and under recognized. An always hard working, bring your lunch pail and hard hat, leave your drama and injuries at the door kind of guy; Millsap is chiseled from the same stone Larry H. Miller carved the Jazz out of when he bought the team nearly 30 years ago. There is only one problem, and it’s the same problem the Jazz organization have faced for two and half decades; a group of undersized, overachieving blue collar players couldn’t compete for an NBA championship then, and it certainly won’t cut it now.
Earlier this past summer, Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Millsap was leaning away from signing a contract extension with the Jazz in favor of signing a more lucrative deal in the 2013 off-season when he will become an unrestricted free agent on the NBA market. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, the Jazz were able to offer Millsap a maximum 3 year contract deal worth upwards of 8 million dollars per season. The $8 million matches the salary Millsap has averaged over the life of the deal Utah gave to him when he became a restricted free agent in the summer of 2009. Millsap and his agent DeAngelo Simmons have undoubtedly seen deals given to former Jazz man Andrei Kirilenko and Brooklyn Net Gerald Wallace which average out to 10 million dollars a season. Millsap is younger, healthier, and arguably better than either Kirilenko or Wallace, and could demand a higher price than the two other forwards on the open market.
Even if the Jazz had inked Millsap to a 3-year, $25 million deal, a discount compared to what he may receive on the NBA free agent market, the Jazz can’t afford him, and should be pleased to enter the 2012-13 NBA season knowing he may be off the books at the end of the year. When the Jazz traded away Deron Williams, they did it with the understanding that they were getting a franchise player in return, and that man is Derrick Favors. At the age of 21, and on the verge of a breakout season, Favors is going to be the focal point of not only the Jazz front court, but the entire franchise. With nearly unmatched length and athleticism, Derrick Favors is a rare breed, even among the NBA’s finest. Millsap… not so much. Standing at around 6’7”, weighing in at 245, Millsap is undersized, even if his heart is too large to measure. Players of Millsap’s size can easily be slowed, as evidenced by his paltry twelve points on 34 percent from the field post season performance against the San Antonio Spurs.
What Jazz fans need to realize, is that as easily as Millsap is too slow, he may just as easily be replaced. While finding a starting power forward to produce 16 points and nine rebounds may be difficult, it’s a problem the Jazz won’t soon face. Given starters minutes, those are numbers Favors has produced since the day he dawned a Jazz uniform, and with Favors inevitable improvement, those are numbers he will likely surpass in the near future. What the Jazz will need to replace, in the event that Millsap leaves the team next off season, is a role which Millsap may himself face in the final year of his deal the organization, that of a back up.
Luckily for the Jazz, adequate backup power forwards are a dime a dozen in the NBA, and could make Millsap’s departure nearly seamless. In this past June’s draft, two highly sought after, and potentially better-than-back-up forwards were taken with picks in the early and late 20′s. Jared Sullinger at 21, and Perry Jones III at 29. The 2010 draft saw current Denver Nuggets starting PF Kenneth Faried fall to pick 22. In 2009, Chicago Bulls back-up Taj Gibson was taken with the 26th pick in the draft, and Spurs reserve big DuJuan Blair was selected in the second round. Being selected late in the draft guarantees these players contracts only a fraction of size of even a discounted Paul Millsap.
And beyond the draft, rotational power forwards are being picked up at discount rates due to the NBA’s new one time amnesty provision. Luis Scola, a borderline All-Star in Houston was acquired by Phoenix after being amnestied by the Rockets for what would be pennies on the dollar in the open market. Former All-Star Elton Brand was awarded to the Dallas Mavericks to back up Dirk Nowitzki after they placed the 2.1 million dollar winning bid using the amnesty process. With the pending tax penalty increase for teams above the tax threshold, which kicks in during the summer of 2013, the league is likely to see even more high caliber players being sold at massive discounts to avoid the enormous tax penalties.
With the Jazz having only committed salaries to Favors, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, Alec Burks and Jeremy Evans beyond this season, the Jazz could be huge players in the bidding process. In addition, the free agent market in 2013 will feature names like Lamar Odom, David West, Nikola Pekovic and the previously mentioned DuJuan Blair, to make no mention of the possiblity of growth from Jeremy Evans and Enes Kanter which would render the search for a third big man unnecessary.
And so, as the Jazz evolve into the next era of NBA basketball, one made up of longer, faster, more explosive players in the model of Derrick Favors, the Jazz smartest move may be to mirror Paul Millsap once again; pass on this contract and find a better deal.
Replies: 8
Views: 1107
8 Responses
If the Jazz’ plan is to let him walk, they should trade him for some sort of future pick at least.
Good point KC, they might as well invest for the future if that’s the case. I’m guessing the Jazz are not quite sure what they are going to do with him at this point. There is too much yet to be seen. As the season rolls on and we see things like injuries, players’ development, chemistry, line ups, etc. on the Jazz and around the league, I’m sure there will be some offers for Millsap by the deadline. It’s going to be very interesting to see how it all plays out.
I liked the beginning of the Article, than it kind of trails of into rediculousness. It first goes off saying how much money power fowards have been getting in the offseason and how much money Millsap could command. Than later all of a sudden power fowards are a dime a dozen and Millsap is easily replaceable? Not to mention the part about late round draft picks being cheaper than Millsap, I guess they forgot Millsap was #47 pick of his draft and has been a Steal for the organization for his entire career.
Millsap can command alot more money in the Free Agency than what the Jazz can give him, and he is inevitably going to be taking a back seat soon with Favors emerging.
If he does leave, its because he rightfully deserves more than what the Jazz can give him. If he does stay, he truly is the identity of what the Jazz Organization stands for.
@John.
I see what you’re saying, but that’s not what the article is stating. Yes, back-up, power fowards who put in limited minutes are absolutely a dime a dozen. However, Millsap is not just a limited minute, back-up PF. He is a legitimate player on any team and on most, a starter.
HOWEVER, what the article states is the jazz’s situation is very peculiar in that they have a strong front court right now and unlike many in the nba, it will only get better every year. With favors and Kanter, it is not necessary to pay Millsap what he will rightfully command because with the increased production out of favors, kanter, and current production out of jefferson (assuming we keep him) it would make no sense for the jazz to pay millsap 10+ million a year for an undersized pf who the jazz won’t need (or frankly want) to put in 30+ min a game. Yes, the jazz love Millsap. I love him, but starting him, giving him even more than 25 mintues a game will lose us more games than win considering who we have sitting on the bench (favors). Keeping millsap would be great, but at 10+ million a year? I don’t see it.
I agree with you though, the articles’ examples of pf “steals” are exceptions, not the rule. However, there are still dime a dozen type pf’s out there that you woulnd’t have to pay half the money millsap would command and still get decent production. Would it be the same production as Millsap? Not even close, but again the jazz’s situation is unique. Millsap’s typical production is not needed (factoring in the money because any player like millsap is arguably needed) on the jazz because of who we will have going forward and the salary constraints those players will bring in the future.
I also agree that we should trade one of Millsap or Jefferson before the deadline because it’s all but guaranteed we lose at least one if not both after this season.
Bottom line: Millsap will not stay with Utah unless Utah is willing to pony up. Looking at Utah’s situation, paying your third big 10+ million a year is an unecessary move.
The great thing about finding a backup PF like the article suggests, is that all you really need to do is find a guy that has a physical advantage(need to be cautious with that though) or does one to a few things really well.
Think about the players he listed… Faried rebounds. Blair rebounds. Sullinger is huge and talented. Taj Gibson has tremendous length and is a great defensive player. Think about what Millsap was when he first came to the league, a high energy rebound machine. He’s just worked his tail off to become the player he is.
I think all the article is suggesting is its much easier finding a backup PF than it is finding a starting one.
I love our players, their personality, integrity, work ethic, toughness, etc. But there is no effing way we make it to Allstar break splitting all 4 bigs to 20 min. each without a team chemistry volcanic eruption.
You can already tell how much work Millsap’s agent has done on him. If Sap and Al continued their preseason stats like this into regular season they would be stupid not to demand a trade right now. This is their contract year. Losing 10 min of PT a game = losing millions on the summer market.
The thing is irreplaceable about Paul Millsap is his heart, character, and work ethic.
The desire to prove everyone wrong–a chip on your shoulder–can be either very valuable (Millsap), or extremely toxic (Deron Williams, Raja Bell).
You have to have the discipline, work ethic and determination to do what is neccessary to make that dream a reality.
Paul Millsap has improved every season. His dip in scoring last season was compensated for by his ability force turnovers, steal the ball, and perform in the clutch.
You either have heart, or you don’t. You can have heart, but not the discipline or work ethic to acheive victory.
Paul Millsap is not SUPPOSED to be as good as he is. In that way, yes, he is the epitome of the Utah Jazz.
I’ve been slowly coming to terms with the fact that we’re going to lose him.
Yes, 16 points and 9 rebounds can be replaced. But you don’t know much about basketball or team sports in general if you think Millsap is just 16 and 9.
I often worry if Favors has the attitude and determination necessary to be Jazz power forward. (He DOES have the body, athletic ability, work ethic, and desire to be better). But does he have the attitude? The heart?
I really, really, really hope he does. Because when you lose a player like Millsap, there is a gaping hole where the heart of your team used to be.
Nick, you nailed it. Sap cannot be replaced easily. When I look at the young guys, the closest thing to replacing Sap would be Kanter, when your looking at the things that cannot be measured. I guess we will see in time.
Sap may not be the end all be all, but I will tell you that Favors has not reached Saps level yet. Favors may be bigger, may be more athletic, may even have a better defensive game, but overall Sap is still the better player at this time. Sap has a more complete game. Sap makes those around him better. Sap has been the heart beat of the team. Sap may not be an All Star, but you need someone like him on your team. Ask around the league and you wont find one team or guy who would not take him on their team.
If your getting rid of sap, I hope enough of him has rubbed off on your young guys before he leaves. Because like Nick said, there will be a very evident whole there when he is gone. The Jazz should be thankful since there are not many players who get paid his price tag and give his production. I bet Chicago would trade you Sap for Boozer in a heartbeat.