The services of Patty Mills are once again up for grabs, after the Australian NBA veteran was waived by the Atlanta Hawks.
Now in his 15th year in the NBA, Mills has been a reliable role player for some time, but saw his playing time drastically reduced after Brooklyn traded him to Atlanta, averaging just 10.6 minutes per game.
Since he has been waived mid-season, he is now eligible to be signed by a team with an open roster spot, ranging from title contenders to rebuilding squads seeking veteran leadership.
But which team will take a chance on Mills?
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Patty Mills signing destinations
San Antonio Spurs
Easily the most discussed landing spot for Mills is his longtime home of San Antonio.
A young, rebuilding squad, buoyed by superstar-in-the-making Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs are in desperate need of some older heads in the locker room, and Mills' shooting ability certainly couldn't hurt.
Having recently agreed to a contract buy-out of their own with Marcus Morris, the Spurs have the spare roster spot, and Mills would no doubt welcome the chance to presumably end his NBA career in the city in which he spent a decade and won a championship.
Los Angeles Clippers
On the flip side, the Clippers are a team pushing for their own NBA championship this season, and could greatly benefit from Mills' offensive ability.
Recently losing sixth-man Russell Westbrook to a hand fracture, and currently in a middling stretch including losses to the Lakers, Kings, and Thunder, the Clippers could soon begin to near panic stations.
A reliable veteran presence with championship experience might be exactly what they need, and Mills would be more than happy to oblige.
Phoenix Suns
A team similar to the Clippers, the Suns are a franchise with championship aspirations, but they seem to be limping to the finish line.
Phoenix star Kevin Durant - a former teammate of Mills in Brooklyn - recently spoke incredibly highly of Mills, calling him "a flat out legend", and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him team up for one last run.
"A flat out legend" - @KDTrey5 on @Patty_Mills’ impact on the game of basketball.#NBAAustralia pic.twitter.com/rNPMIa0sQ3
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) February 27, 2024
With Phoenix's bench being questionable all season, and a possible ankle injury to Devin Booker, Mills' presence could end up more beneficial than anyone could've thought.
International
As sad as it is to say, there is a decent chance that Atlanta could represent the final stint of Mills' NBA career.
At 35, his benefit to teams could be limited, but that does not mean his days on the court are done.
With the Paris 2024 Olympics approaching, Mills will prioritise playing time in hopes of selection, meaning a European or Japanese team could be a perfect landing spot, or even an NBL franchise.
Patty Mills contract details
Mills was in the final year of a two-year $13.28 million contract, signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022.
After clearing waivers, he is now an unrestricted free agent and free to sign with any team.
| Season | Salary |
| 2023-24 | $6,802,950 |
Patty Mills career stats
- 8.9 points per game
- 2.2 assists per game
- 1.7 rebounds per game
- 0.6 steals per game
- 0.1 blocks per game
- 1.0 turnovers per game
- 42.5 percent field goal shooting
- 38.9 percent 3-point shooting
- 85.4 percent free throw shooting
