The Nets are adding another veteran with an All-Star pedigree — and they could be headed for a reunion with another.
Free agent forward Paul Millsap has agreed to a deal with Brooklyn, the four-time All-Star’s agent DeAngelo Simmons told The Athletic’s Shams Charania. He later tweeted that LaMarcus Aldridge has been medically cleared to return to the NBA, and the Nets “are the leaders” to sign him.
The 36-year-old Millsap also reportedly considered the Warriors, Bulls and Clippers, but Charania indicated that the 6-7 power forward chose the Nets due to their championship aspirations. He averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game over 56 appearances (36 starts) last season for the Nuggets.
The 36-year-old Aldridge abruptly retired from the NBA due to an irregular heartbeat in April, barely two weeks after signing with the Nets following a buyout from the Spurs. The seven-time All-Star appeared in five games for Brooklyn, averaging 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds.
The Nets, who lost in the second round of the NBA playoffs to eventual champion Milwaukee, also added longtime Spurs guard Patty Mills in August. Brooklyn also signed Kevin Durant to a four-year contract extension worth $198 million last month, and GM Sean Marks has indicated that he also hopes to extend fellow Big 3 stars James Harden and Kyrie Irving.