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Brooklyn Nets: Is Paul Millsap an upgrade over Jeff Green?

ByBaigen Seawell|
Paul Millsap of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
Paul Millsap of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

The Nets added Paul Millsap, but is it a true improvement to the roster? 

The Brooklyn Nets are a seasoned team, not old by any means… but they do have some players with a bit of age on them. Is it that much of concern for the average Nets fan? It depends on who you’d ask, but these same “old folks” made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Following the close of the 2020-21 NBA season, the Nets are trying to rebuild on the margins once more. The goal is to make themselves the biggest and baddest team in the East with some of the most seasoned vets that they can find. So far they’ve added LaMarcus Aldridge (36), who retired after being diagnosed with a rare heart condition.

In addition to Aldridge, the Nets and Paul Millsap finalized an agreement that will bring him to Brooklyn, while former bench stalwart Jeff Green headed to Denver to ostensibly “replace” the vet. Millsap is also 36, adding more age to the roster, along with more jokes and giggles from the peanut gallery.

One in particular was very telling about the Nets’ new pick up.

How does Paul Millsap stack up on the Nets 21-22 season roster?

So who would you rather place your trust in, especially after Green proved to be a pressure cooker last season?

Millsap is older – or, according to Sean Marks, more seasoned. His age may be seen as a detriment, and outsiders may very well consider him washed.

On the defensive end, though, Millsap would be more of an asset than Green. And isn’t that what Brooklyn really needed to upgrade in the first place?

The numbers may not indicate that big of an impact, but every iota, decimal and contribution adds up.

Green wasn’t a special defender last season, and you can argue that Millsap also wasn’t great, but neither was letting DeAndre Jordan sit on the bench for nearly $10 million. To say he’s “washed” doesn’t fully encompass what he’d be able to do off the bench for Brooklyn, and fans were sure to call that out.

(Yes, in fact, Jordan’s departure was imminent.)

Millsap is a veteran who averaged nine points and five rebounds a game in 2020-21. He may be more of a defensive asset than on offense, but he’s an asset nonetheless. To count him out before he makes it to Brooklyn would be a bit pessimistic to say the least, since it is a new team with new expectations.

Green will be missed by the culture, and there may be hesitancy in adding Millsap if you’re an advocate for younger players, but he would be a decent relief to have. Perhaps his offensive prowess will even be strengthened since he’ll be playing with KD, Blake Griffin and Kyrie. Washed he is not.