The NBA journey for Patty Mills, a seasoned 15-year combo guard, seems to be winding down as he faces another twist in his career.
Following a whirlwind of transfers during the summer, Mills found himself donning the Brooklyn Nets jersey not once, not twice, but thrice before ultimately landing with the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite his experience and skills, the 6’2″ veteran only managed to grace the court for 19 games with the Hawks this season.
However, his stint with the team came to an abrupt end as news broke today that Atlanta would be parting ways with him.
According to reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic, Atlanta has decided to waive Mills’ expiring $6.8 million contract, opting instead to elevate Trent Forrest, a two-way guard, to their standard 15-man roster.
This move potentially opens the door for Mills to join a playoff contender, provided it occurs before the looming deadline.
Mills, now 35 years old, boasts an impressive resume, notably clinching an NBA title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, where he served as a pivotal sharpshooting asset off the bench during their victory over LeBron James’ Miami Heat.
Despite his age, Mills has maintained a respectable shooting performance, averaging 2.7 points on 37.3% shooting from the field and an impressive 38.2% from beyond the arc, along with contributing 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.
With Mills hitting the market, speculation arises about potential landing spots for the seasoned guard. One intriguing possibility could be the Los Angeles Lakers, where he could fill the void left by struggling guard Spencer Dinwiddie and the sidelined Gabe Vincent.
Dinwiddie’s underwhelming performance since joining the Lakers, averaging a mere 5.2 points over his first six games with concerning shooting splits of .343/.238/1.000, raises concerns, particularly regarding his three-point shooting, an area where the Lakers desperately need reinforcement from their bench.
Meanwhile, Vincent’s injury woes have limited his availability, having appeared in just five games throughout the season, with his return timeline remaining uncertain as the regular season progresses into March.
As the NBA landscape continues to shift, seasoned veterans like Patty Mills present enticing opportunities for teams seeking playoff depth and experience. With his knack for scoring and proven track record from beyond the arc, Mills could indeed emerge as a valuable asset for teams eyeing postseason success.
