Boston Celtics free agency: Making a case for Paul Millsap

The Boston Celtics are already a top contender for Gordon Hayward, Blake Griffin, and/or Paul George. But Paul Millsap is a man that doesn’t come to the minds of many fans when talking about Celtics targets.

In my opinion, Paul Millsap is one of the best forwards in the NBA, and he hasn’t lost a step since reaching that level. He has been extremely consistent with his game on both sides of the ball. Millsap plays a game that is versatile and complete, making it easy for him to work with any system.   The Boston Celtics should have enough cap room to pursue him, so why not if Hayward is out of the question before Millsap? I would advocate this decision completely.

And we’re off!

Millsap’s stats this past season stood out to me when looking at players in this free agency pool. He averaged 18.1 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game. For an undersized power forward, these stats are solid. He shot 44.2 percent overall on the season. He only shot 31.1 percent from beyond the arc, but he can still make them when needed.

Defensively, his stats weren’t bad. He is known for having some of the quickest hands at the forward position, so his 1.3 steals per game should not surprise many. He averaged about a block per game, which isn’t bad considering a lot of his matchups are taller than him.

Biggest Benefits?

The Boston Celtics would benefit mostly from Millsap’s defensive flexibility. He can be matched up against combo guards and post players alike. His lateral quickness is enough to keep up with the guards, and his wingspan helps him steal the ball when the opportunity arises. His wingspan also helps him bother shots, both from beyond the arc and in the paint.

Paul Millsap is also a really good passer, both with his back to the basket and when he is beyond the arc. He always seems to know when and where to dish the rock. Although he did average 2.3 turnovers per game, he will probably be put in better passing situations with Boston, making his turnover rate go down, while also bringing up his pass completion percentage.

Paul Millsap could provide a rebounding spark that could help shift Boston’s numbers dramatically. While he only averaged 7.7 this year, he has averaged 9 rebounds per game and has also had years where he has averaged close to that mark. He boxes out well, and his vertical helps to make up for his lack of size.

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The Conclusion

Overall, Boston seems like a great fit for Millsap, someone who has not yet won a ring and is looking for what could be his last max deal. Millsap has shown that he is on a steady pace, his numbers being very consistent over the last three years. He has shown that he can contribute to a team who already has stars, and he can be the number one guy when needed.

In my opinion, Paul Millsap is the type of consistent and impactful veteran that the Celtics could stand to add. This would make up for the combined losses of Kelly Olynyk (if we follow through with letting him walk) and Amir Johnson (if we are for sure not going to make a run at him). If the Celtics cannot get either Gordon Hayward or Paul George, then Paul Millsap would not be a bad alternative.

Next: Boston Bruins News: Noel Acciari signing is a steal

Credit to nba.com for Paul Millsap’s stats and any other stats used throughout the article