The Denver Nuggets will be without their marquee free-agent and four-time All-Star, Paul Millsap, for “several months” after he underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist, the team announced Sunday.
The injury will make the Nuggets’ goal of securing a playoff spot for the first time since the 2013 season much more difficult; however, despite Millsap not being able to play, he will still be an anchor in helping to get the Nuggets back to the postseason.
The signing of Millsap did two things for the Nuggets:
- It fortified the roster so that it would be talented enough to compete in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
- Set the team up for future success by adding veteran leadership and a winning mentality to the young Nuggets’ roster.
The Nuggets’ chances of winning an NBA title in the three seasons that Millsap is under contract are slim to none. The third year of Millsap’s deal is a team option, but with opponents like the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets — in addition to a slew of other teams in the Western Conference — a road to the NBA Finals looks almost inconceivable in that window of time for Denver.
Millsap was signed to help the team get back on the winning track in the present while also building the culture for the future. With Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, and a few other pieces leading the charge for Denver to establish themselves as a power player in the West, Millsap’s mentorship will be a binding force that plays a significant role in pushing the franchise forward.
Now sidelined for the rest of 2017 and beyond, Millsap’s leadership will come from a different perspective, but one that can still be remarkably valuable for the Nuggets this season and beyond.
Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone knows what Millsap brings to the team on a day-to-day basis — whether he’s playing or not — and wants him around the young team as much as possible when he’s healed.
“I think it’s really important for him — when he’s able to — to be around as much as possible; to travel with us as much as possible,” Malone said. “Whether he’s starting for us at power forward, or he’s rehabbing from a wrist surgery; he’s a big part of this team moving forward. He can still have a profound impact on all of our guys whether he’s wearing a suit or if he’s just on the practice court encouraging guys.”
Although he will be sidelined, Millsap can still build chemistry with his teammates by talking and interacting at practices, shootarounds, and team functions. He can still continue to instill a winning mentality within the team which — in turn — can lead to newfound success when he returns to the hardwood.
“Whenever he’s able to get back into the gym, we want him around as much as possible,” Malone said. “When he’s cleared to travel, we want him traveling with us as much as possible because I think it’s going to be healthy for him and beneficial for us as well.”
Not having Millsap is a massive loss for Denver as he served as the anchor of their improving defense and added balance to their up-tempo offensive attack. Denver currently ranks seventh in the league in offensive rating (107.1), and 18th in defensive rating (105.9).
Nevertheless, it will be up to the rest of the squad to step up in the wake of losing Millsap. Patiently waiting to return to the court, Millsap will serve as a valuable teacher in other aspects outside of the court which could pay dividends down the line.
