Nuggets Comfortable Exercising $30M Option On Paul Millsap If They Can't Agree To Longer Deal

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Denver Nuggets still haven't made a decision on their $30 million team option on Paul Millsap. The Nuggets could conceivably sign Millsap to a longer term deal at a lower annual average.

"I think they feel in Denver, Tim Connelly, Arturas Karnisovas, they can manage that $30 million on their cap," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "It's not going to break them. If they can't come up with a deal long-term, a two or three-year deal at a lower number, they bring him back this year.

"As excited as they are about Michael Porter, they know that he's not coming in essentially as a rooke and win in the postseason.

"Millsap, listen, he's a player with a lot of value."

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

[ctguns]

They must feel he will get a big offer or leave if that option isn't picked up. Millsap is not a $30M player

[Cassius]

They must feel he will get a big offer or leave if that option isn't picked up. Millsap is not a $30M player

Agreed. In an ideal situation, 3/60 with only 10m guaranteed on the third year should be acceptable for both sides, but it only takes one stupid team to ruin the math.

[Ettorefm]

They must feel he will get a big offer or leave if that option isn't picked up. Millsap is not a $30M player

I believe he is, but in context. 1 year, 30 million, already knows the system and is a key piece to their title aspirations, it won't hurt their other signings this year, and they get to renegotiate a new contract next year maybe at even a lower rate (as he'll be older).

Absolutely worth it. It's not like they have to sign Murray this offseason. He has one more year. By the time they have to sign him to a big contract, Millsap will be off the books.

Run it back, try to win a championship with the same team (and same salary as last year), and in 20-21 reshape your roster. Plumlee's contract will also expire, which will free 45 million in just those two players for you to extend Murray and sign other players.

[ctguns]

They must feel he will get a big offer or leave if that option isn't picked up. Millsap is not a $30M player

I believe he is, but in context. 1 year, 30 million, already knows the system and is a key piece to their title aspirations, it won't hurt their other signings this year, and they get to renegotiate a new contract next year maybe at even a lower rate (as he'll be older).

Absolutely worth it. It's not like they have to sign Murray this offseason. He has one more year. By the time they have to sign him to a big contract, Millsap will be off the books.

Run it back, try to win a championship with the same team (and same salary as last year), and in 20-21 reshape your roster. Plumlee's contract will also expire, which will free 45 million in just those two players for you to extend Murray and sign other players.

I agree partially with you. If the goal is to sign him long term then you decline and negotiate because he isn't getting $30M on the open market. But i don't think he is in their plans after 20-21' and they don't want to commit $ beyond that.

Murray is a different story. The goal should be to maximize the cap and roster prior to offering him his max because we could go over the cap to sign him as he is our own player. Signing him into our own cap space, $45M or whatever the # ends up being, isn't as advantageous to us.

If you can trade Plumlee or Barton now, that would be ideal

[RipCityKJ]

They should do whatever it takes to keep this team in tact, they have enough young guys that they could eat an over paid Millsap for 3 years and not hinder their future. 3/60 sounds about right but I wouldn’t blame them if they gave him 3/80 and overpaid for a vet that helped you get within seconds of the WCF.

[kenwood3333]

30M is a lot for a player who is 33 years ago, have a history of not able to stay healthy and does a bunch of little things but nothing particularly well.