Sixers: Ranking every player on the roster after James Harden trade

Ranking every Sixers player — 12. Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap was tossed into the trade that brought James Harden to Philadelphia. The 37-year-old was out of the rotation in Brooklyn but has a real chance to carve out consistent minutes as Joel Embiid’s backup in Philly. He’s not the player he once was, but Millsap’s diverse skill set and high I.Q. make him a credible (if uninspiring) option for 10-15 minutes a night.

Once an All-Star and true two-way marvel, the last few years have marked a notable athletic decline for Millsap. He’s an old sports car running on fumes, not quite able to chug along at the speed he once did. Even so, at 6-foot-7 and 257 pounds, Millsap has the muscle to defend inside. Just don’t expect him to move on the perimeter like he used to.

Millsap can do a lot of things offensively. He’s a smart facilitator from the elbow, a decent spot-up shooter, and even in his advanced age, a pretty reliable post-up scorer when afforded a favorable matchup. He doesn’t play above the rim, but Millsap can make quick reads and play decisively out of the pick-and-roll. He shouldn’t have a problem fitting next to James Harden, for example.

It’s fair to question if Millsap can hold up physically in the postseason. The Sixers will have to sit Joel Embiid at some point when the games really count, and right now, the options behind him are scarce. That said, Millsap was a regular starter as recently as last season.