Teams around the NBA have been very busy over the past few days, actively recruiting players and improving their rosters. We've already seen All-star caliber players switch teams, as Jimmy Butler and Paul George are no longer in the Eastern Conference.
Butler is now with the Timberwolves, while George got traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chris Paul also has a new team, as he will be playing for the Houston Rockets next season. With all this being said, the Western Conference just got stronger as it was announced on Sunday night that Paul Millsap signed with the Denver Nuggets.
Nuggets looking to make the playoffs next season
The Nuggets narrowly missed the playoffs last season, as they finished 9th in the Western Conference with a 40-42 record. On Sunday night, ESPN reported that the Nuggets have officially signed free agent Paul Millsap to a three-year deal. The contract is projected to be worth around $90 million and has a team option for the third year. Millsap has made the All-star team in each of the previous four seasons, and he could be that missing piece for this young Denver team.
After failing to acquire Dwyane Wade last summer, and Kevin Love earlier this offseason, it appears that Millsap is the star Denver has been searching for. Last season with the Hawks, he averaged 18.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
Millsap also improved his three-point shooting as he shot 31% from behind the arc during the 2016/2017 season. He is a great all-around player on both ends of the floor, and he and Nikola Jokic should be a good fit in the Nugget's frontcourt.
Millsap's signing will likely mean that the Nuggets will part ways with Danilo Gallinari who was their primary power forward last season.
This also means that the Atlanta Hawks are in for a long rebuilding process, as they lost yet another All-star caliber player. Earlier this offseason Atlanta traded away Dwight Howard, and last season they lost Al Horford.
Lowry re-signs with the Raptors
Don't worry Raptors fans, Kyle Lowry is coming back. Lowry was a free agent this summers, and there were many speculations and rumors about him potentially leaving Toronto.
Well, that's not going to happen anytime soon, as Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Sunday that Lowry and the Raptors have agreed to a three-year deal. Lowry and the Toronto Raptors agreed to a three-year contract worth $100 million, and it seems this is a perfect fit for both sides.
Lowry returns to Raptors on a 3-year, 100M deal to stay with Raptors, getting the $30M-plus annual salary he wanted https://t.co/tdOZYbupQ3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 2. srpnja 2017.
The All-star point guard had a career year last season, as he averaged 22.4 points and 7.0 assists per game while shooting 41% from the three-point line. Lowry made the All-star team last season but was limited to 60 games due to a right wrist injury. Hopefully, he stays healthy next few seasons and shows why he's a $100 million-caliber player.
