You would not think of Utah is an ideal free-agent landing spot, but the Jazz are a pretty solid team and just so happen to have some cap space coming this summer, so they do have the wherewithal to land a significant free agent in July.
One name that immediately comes to mind is Denver Nuggets big man Paul Millsap, who actually played the first seven years of his career with the Jazz before signing with the Atlanta Hawks during the summer of 2013.
Of course, the Nuggets have a team option on Millsap for next season, but given that Millsap has been a pretty big disappointment in the Mile High City and will make $30 million if Denver picks the option up, it seems probable that the Nuggets will cut him loose.
Here are three reasons why the Jazz should seriously consider a Millsap reunion this offseason:
3. Defensive Versatility
The Jazz are one of the top defensive teams in the league, but one area in which they struggle is against teams with mobile bigs who can spread the floor.
Rudy Gobert is the best rim protector in the NBA and is an absolute monster in help defense on the interior, but when it comes to getting out on the perimeter and guarding the pick-and-roll, he runs into issues, which is a big reason why Utah has struggled so mightily against the Houston Rockets the last two postseasons.
While the 34-year-old Millsap is not as fleet afoot as he was a few years ago, he is still a fine defensive player and can certainly defend the pick-and-roll better than any other big on the Jazz's roster. Plus, given his solid footspeed even at this age, he can switch virtually everything and be okay.
A defensive tandem of Gobert and Millsap would certainly be tantalizing.
2. Floor Spacing
The Jazz have said they are going to try and sign some guys who can shoot this offseason, as they are one of the weakest three-point shooting teams in the NBA.
While Millsap isn't exactly Kyle Korver overall, he is one of the better perimeter shooting bigs in the league, as he shot 36.5 percent from downtown during the regular season this year.
One thing the Jazz certainly don't have is floor spacing up front, and Millsap would instantly provide that for them. He would also give Donovan Mitchell a terrific pick-and-pop option, which will not only make life easier for Mitchell, but will open up Utah's offense in general.
This will also make Gobert an even more viable threat in pick-and-rolls, as the combination of him and Millsap would keep defenses off-balance.
1. Secondary Scorer
Outside of Mitchell, the Jazz don't really have anyone who can create their own shot consistently.
Gobert was the team's second-leading scorer, with the vast majority of his buckets coming off of dunks and putbacks. Joe Ingles was third, and while Ingles is a terrific three-and-D guy, he cannot be one of your top three options.
Enter Millsap, who would instantly become Utah's No. 2 scorer and would take a whole lot of pressure off of Mitchell, who has carried a ridiculously heavy burden in the playoffs the last two years.
Can Millsap average 18 points per game like he did during his peak in Atlanta? We'll have to wait and see, but we do know that he would unquestionably become the Jazz's second-best offensive player immediately upon signing, and it would make Utah considerably more formidable in a seven-game series where defenses would no longer be able to single out Mitchell and key on him the entire way.
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