Sixers: What role does Paul Millsap play in Philadelphia?

The noise around James Harden’s arrival in Philadelphia has overshadowed the Sixers‘ other acquisition in that trade: veteran big man Paul Millsap, who spent his last four seasons in Denver before signing with Brooklyn over the summer.

Millsap is on a veteran’s minimum contract. He has appeared in 24 games for Brooklyn, averaging 3.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game. The Nets aren’t exactly known for frontcourt depth, but with names like Nic Claxton, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Blake Griffin in front of him, Millsap had a difficult time carving out minutes.

Now, the question is will that change in Philadelphia? The Sixers traded Andre Drummond as part of the Harden deal, leaving them without a definitive backup center behind Joel Embiid. Doc Rivers already said the Sixers plan to “see” Millsap, so a buyout feels unlikely. There’s a real chance the 37-year-old (who was traded on his birthday) gets the first crack at absorbing Drummond’s minutes in the frontcourt.

What will Paul Millsap’s role look like with the Sixers?

Millsap has struggled this season, but in 2020-21 (his age 35 season), he was still central to Denver’s rotation. He averaged 20.4 minutes per game, started in 36 of 56 appearances, and contributed across the board (9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists). There’s reason to believe, with more of an opening in the rotation, Millsap can still give you some quality minutes.

At 6-foot-7, Millsap would be an undersized center, but he makes up for it with 257 pounds of muscle. He’s a strong post defender who has prided himself on versatility throughout his career. That versatility has diminished with age, but Millsap can still play physical defense on the block, hit spot-up 3s, and make quick decisions with the ball. He’s a smart, high-I.Q. veteran. The skill is there — it’s a matter of whether or not he can hold up physically.

James Harden has ample experience with small-ball centers, both in Houston and in Brooklyn. That said, the Sixers also have two young bigs who deserve consideration in Paul Reed and Charles Bassey. In particular, it’s Bassey who makes the most sense on paper. He’s the kind of above-the-rim finisher and interior defender who fits hand-in-glove with Harden, a player who once elevated Clint Capela to borderline All-Star status in Houston. This is, of course, assuming Rivers makes some effort to stagger Harden and Embiid, as he should.

Reed played 13 minutes in Friday’s win over OKC, but we won’t know Doc Rivers’ true intentions until he gets Paul Millsap in the gym and on the court. Hopefully he’s open-minded with respect to the younger members of his team, but Rivers has long preferred leaning on veterans when he can. That gives Millsap a real chance to carve out a daily role with the Sixers.