Is Paul Millsap's future at Small Forward?

[gomretat]

Other than spot minutes, Sap does not have the quickness or the range to play the 3 either defensively or offensively. He is solid back up PF. He is not a solid back up SF.

 

[Fishsticks]

Interesting. I am down. Curious to see if he could really knock down the three with consistency.

 

[VINYLONE]

Paul is slow to get out on shooters. I don't like it.Teams would exploit it a lot.

Might be true...but whats the difference with the current situation?

 

[NotDeadYet]

I've had the same thought, but his lateral movement defensively is way too slow against quicker SF's. I would use him some at SF against slower SF's, however. It would depend on matchups.
A good 3-man rotation at PF and C would give Millsap plenty of PT, assuming Favors can also play C, which I think he could down the road. I do see Millsap as a 'super-sub' 6th man more than a starter. Same with Miles at SF.
Without Deron here commanding huge $$, I see us re-signing AK, and he would start at SF.

 

[Qman]

Paul is being paid like a 4th or 5th starter or a six-man off the bench. And that is what his role should be. He isn't and will never be good for more than spot duty at SF.

 

[Twin Towers]

Paul Millsap could probably develop a good enough outside shot to play the 3. He could also improve his dribbling skills also. I think in time both of those would be good enough after about a month of playing the SF position. He would be amazing at rebounding for the SF position.

But the problem again goes back to lateral movement. Sloan tried to play him at the 3 position his first 2 years here. It doesn't work. Every player was driving right past him. Now do I think if we told him one summer "you are going to play SF next year so work on your lateral athleticism"....... could he do it? probably. I have seen that improve. Ronnie Brewer improved that. i do think he has the ability to. It just would take some technique changes and he would need to slim down a little bit and work on his lateral movement.

The problem is that it would take a lot of work. And he is more valuable as a trade asset this summer than being a SF for us which most likely would not work.

 

[candrew]

He would be exactly like harpring in his last few years. Which was beyond pathetic on defense. You really want to turn Millsap into Harpring 2.0?

I can't decide - perhaps we can watch him get destroyed in the post night after night against every PF 6'9" or taller.

 

[NotDeadYet]

Bingo, 'candrew'. There are many PF matchups where Millsap gets eaten alive on defense. He'd be much more effective in specific matchup situations at either SF or PF.

 

[BetterThanESPN]

Our best option would be to either A) Draft a SF in this draft or B) Trade Millsap for a SF. While playing Millsap at the three would be beneficial at times, it'd be a car wreck more often than we'd like.

 

[LogGrad98]

No way Sap can keep up with the top SF of the league, or even the 2nd tier. He is a solid PF with SF height. That does not usually equate to tremendous success even for top level players. Look at Elton Brand. I know his career was derailed by an injury, but he still struggled against the longer more athletic 4's in the league. He could match brute strength and was a beast defensively, and filled the stat sheet, but his tweener-ness made it very unlikely he was going to carry anyone to a championship. And Sap is no where near the talent Brand was.

 

[NCJazz]

Millsap would need to bulk down and gain some quickness. I am probably in the camp of using him to get a Center or true wing in the offseason. Hopefully, get Kyrie in the draft.

 

[twentytwo]

I'm in the "trade Millsap for a ballin' SF" camp.

Obviously the deadline just passed, but yeah.