HEADLINE

Nuggets expect Millsap back in 2019-20

Field Level Media

May 21, 2019 at 7:35 pm.

The Denver Nuggets expect to keep power forward Paul Millsap in 2019-20, president of basketball operations Tim Connelly told reporters Tuesday.

“Our goal and Paul’s goal is to have him back with us,” Connelly said at an end-of-season press conference.

Millsap has a $30.15 million team option for 2019-20 as part of a three-year, $91.3 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2017, but it sounds like the sides could collaborate on a new deal for the 34-year-old.

“We both want the same thing,” Connelly said. “We’ll figure out the best way for the organization and Paul to make sure that’s achieved. I fully expect Paul to be back in a Nuggets uniform.”

Millsap, a 13-year veteran and four-time All-Star, averaged 12.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 70 games (65 starts) last season, while serving as the key piece for a much improved defense. He also shot 36.5 percent from 3-point range, the best single-season mark of his career (min. 25 attempts).

He averaged 14.6 points and 6.7 assists in 14 playoff games, as the Nuggets fell in Game 7 of the second round to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Millsap missed time in December with a broken toe, after missing 44 games in 2017-18 with a wrist injury that required surgery.

A second-round pick of the Utah Jazz in 2006, Millsap played seven seasons in Utah before earning four All-Star appearances in as many seasons for the Atlanta Hawks from 2013-17.