Paul Millsap Rumors: Nuggets, Timberwolves Reported Front-Runners for Free Agent

The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves have reportedly "emerged as front-runners" for Paul Millsap as the start of the free-agency period Saturday approaches.

On Friday, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News cited a source close to Millsap when reporting the news and added the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns are "still in the mix."       

It is no surprise a number of suitors are interested in Millsap considering he is a four-time All-Star and was a member of an All-Defensive team as recently as 2015-16. He also has 87 playoff games on his resume and can provide veteran leadership for whichever team signs him.

While there may be some concerns about his age at 32 years old, he just tallied a career-high 18.1 points per game in 2016-17.

Denver and Minnesota stand out as the reported front-runners for similar reasons in terms of the frontcourt makeup.

Denver's Nikola Jokic is a blossoming star, and Millsap could serve in a mentor role and take full advantage of openings created when opposing defenses collapse on the 22-year-old big man. The pair would be particularly difficult to stop because Millsap can extend his game beyond the paint, which will free up Jokic on the blocks.

The Timberwolves also have one of the best young big men in the league in Karl-Anthony Towns. Millsap could slide into that same mentor role there and capitalize on openings created by the Kentucky product.

Minnesota traded for Jimmy Butler this offseason, and Shams Charania of The Vertical reported Friday that point guard Jeff Teague agreed to sign with the team. A potential fivesome of Butler, Millsap, Towns, Teague and Andrew Wiggins would make the Timberwolves a potential contender, even in the loaded Western Conference.