Signing Paul Millsap isn’t that bad of an idea

If he becomes expendable, Millsap is a significant asset

Let’s say that Millsap is signed to a three-year deal. And let’s say that he plays out this season to critical acclaim. He doesn’t slide in skill and however good the Suns are or are not, there is still a lot of optimism about his own game going forward. It is entirely possible that he immediately becomes expendable, and much like Isaiah Thomas, just became a seriously valuable trade asset.

Millsap is obviously not a piece for the Phoenix future. But he could be the kind of player that can help put a team over the top. Maybe LeBron James goes to the Lakers. Or even stays in Cleveland. And maybe Boston continues to make a strong push to overtake Cleveland in the East. Maybe too the Washington Wizards. Or maybe a team in either Conference takes a big leap forward and needs a veteran power forward who they think can bring them to Championship contending status.

Maybe too next offseason Phoenix has their eyes still on Kristaps Porzingis or another young star player that is unhappy with his current situation and looking to be moved. Having the ability to use Millsap and his contract as a talented piece to send in a return package might actually save the Suns from having to trade another younger player in his stead, keeping the most valuable young talent intact.

By signing Millsap the Suns essentially hold an asset who could very easily be that piece for the following two years who teams will make calls to acquire at considerable cost. Phoenix could trade him in a package for a young player and/or picks and then make a subsequent move that actually helps land them an established, but younger player who they do want to keep for the long-term. Using the trading of Millsap as the catalyst could both get the necessary assets to make such a move, plus clear up cap space.

This very scenario could also take place at the 2019 trade deadline, or after his second season in Phoenix with only one year remaining on his contract. Acquiring Millsap as a free agent now without having to give up any moving parts could be an extremely savvy move.

To this point, I personally believed that the signing of Isaiah Thomas was a stroke of genius because the intention was to get one of the best players on the free agency market for only cash, then flip one or two of the three point guards that now clogged up the backcourt. The problem that arose wasn’t due to the signing itself. The problem was the internal issues that were due to impatience and lack of vision by several of the players. In this case with Millsap, the likelihood of that situation re-occurring appears to be very minimal. Not to mention, Ryan McDonough has hopefully learned from the Thomas/Dragic blowup and thus would handle this situation much better.