Paul Millsap: Elite NBA Power Forward?

In an era of the NBA where every team but seemingly Memphis wants to go small, it is imperative for a team to have a talented stretch four on their roster. The Atlanta Hawks have themselves a very versatile player at the four: Paul Millsap.

Millsap came to Atlanta via free agency in the summer of 2013, looking for an expanded role with a team on the rise. In his first two years with the Atlanta Hawks, Paul Millsap has twice gone on to play in NBA All-Star Games: 2014 in New Orleans and 2015 in New York City.

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Paul Millsap has the unique ability to create his own shot for himself, a rarity for most big men. He can thrive offensively in the low post, with his mid-range jumper, and drain threes with consistency on the outside. Millsap can pass and defend like a wing at power forward, while still being able to rebound at a high level for a four despite being a bit undersized.

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So in this point guard, power forward driven version of the Association, is Paul Millsap in that upper echelon of stretch fours? Can we as NBA fans consider Paul Millsap an elite power forward as he enters his third season with the Atlanta Hawks on a new contract?

Since we’re talking basketball here, let’s use Elite Eight to our advantage. We’ll make the top eight PFs elite in this exercise. How does Paul Millsap stack up against the other great power forwards in the NBA?

I’ll admit it. It’s tough as the Association is more position-less than ever. I’m assuming that Marc Gasol, Tim Duncan, Joakim Noah, and Al Horford are centers while LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard are small forwards.

I can say with pure confidence that Anthony Davis and LaMarcus Aldridge are better than Paul Millsap. Both Western Conference big men finished on 2014-15 All-NBA Teams, first and second teams respectively. Their in a class of their own.

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In Paul Millsap’s next tier, I would have to include Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, Dirk Nowitzki, Draymond Green, Kevin Love, Chris Bosh, and Serge Ibaka. I would say those seven guys plus Aldridge, Davis, and Millsap make up the Top 10 of NBA Power Forwards heading into 2015-16.

Of that second tier seven, I can’t say that Paul Millsap is definitely better than Zach Randolph or Draymond Green, both of whom extremely physical and great all-around power forwards. I feel that while Bosh, Gasol, and Nowitzki are all destined to make the Basketball Hall of Fame, I see them all on the tail-end of the prime while Paul Millsap is in the midst of his. I’d have to believe that Paul is at least better than one of those Hall of Fame worthy PF’s at this time.

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