The Goods Posted July 9, 2009 Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 After a series of trades fell through this week, the Trail Blazers have settled on their next target: Utah power forward Paul Millsap. Although Millsap is a restricted free agent, meaning the Jazz can match any offer, the Blazers are preparing what one source called a "toxic" offer designed to exterminate interest from other teams. Millsap, 24, is a bruising and active player who excels at rebounding. Despite being only 6-foot-8, Millsap last season used his 250-pound frame to average 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game. His 3.3 offensive rebounds per game ranked fourth in the NBA and his 251 offensive rebounds ranked sixth. If Millsap signs an offer sheet accepting the Blazers' deal, Utah will have seven days to match the offer. The Jazz is already facing the luxury tax next season with a team salary of more than $73 million. Their finances, and prospects of competing with a lucrative offer to Millsap, took a hit last week when Carlos Boozer ($12.6 million), Mehmet Okur ($9 million) and Kyle Korver ($5.1 million) all exercised options to stay in Utah. The Blazers figure to exhaust nearly all of their cap space to lock up Millsap. They are $7.7 million under the cap, but can gain an additional $1.65 million by renouncing the rights to Petteri Koponen and Joel Freeland. However, in the process, the Blazers would be assessed with a roughly $450,000 cap hold for having less than 11 players, thus giving them $8.9 million in cap space. Millsap is from Grambling, La., and attended Louisiana Tech, where he became the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in rebounding for three consecutive years. He entered the 2006 NBA Draft after his junior season and was a late second-round pick (47th overall), but immediately became a rotation player, earning second-team All-Rookie honors. In his third NBA season last year, Millsap started a career-high 38 games while filling in for the injured Boozer. He had a career-high 32 points at Boston in December and tied his career-high with 17 rebounds in a January game at the Lakers. Sources say Millsap has told the Blazers he would be amicable to playing behind LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers' returning power forward and one of the franchise's cornerstones. The Blazers are hoping Millsap provides some interior grit and toughness, two qualities that were lacking in a first-round playoff loss to Houston. The move would appear to most affect Travis Outlaw, who was expected to move into the backup power forward role full-time this season, but there has been no indication whether another move was imminent. On Tuesday, Millsap's agent, DeAngelo Simmons, declined to comment on the Blazers and their interest. Simmons did not return phone messages Wednesday night. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/07/blazers_preparing_offer_for_ut.html Portland is going to be a damn good team if they stay healthy next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flight Posted July 9, 2009 Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 If Portland gets Millsap I'll JIMP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2ThaG Posted July 9, 2009 Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 With his size he can probably play SF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Feelgood Posted July 9, 2009 Report Share Posted July 9, 2009 I wouldn't mind Milsap in Portland at all. Awesome player and if he's willing to back LaMarcus, even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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