Hoops

Blazers sign Patty Mills

The 2 year deal has officially been inked by Mills...

BA Website: http://linky.com.au/kdn6m

Patrick Mills's NBA future is finally secure after the Canberra basketballer inked a two-year rookie deal worth almost $1million yesterday, writes Chris Dutton in The Canberra Times.

Yeah, I'd take that 4% figure with a grain of salt too. I'd much rather look at a players athleticism, size, bball skills and mental attitude than apply a statistical average.

It would be daft to sit there watching Gilbert Arenas, Rashard Lewis, Carlos Boozer, etc during their first NBA pre-season and say "only 4% of second round picks ever amount to anything, so this performance is probably just an abberation". Better to rely on the evidence before your eyes I reckon!

Paul, I hope Mills doesn't end up at the Bobcats! :-P

Yeah, Schensch had some good coverage here for the same reason. That and he was wearing MJ's number!

Bulls are very thin at the guards, I would love to get a Mills Chi Town jersey!

Good news that there a few teams interested in him still.

Interesting result in a poll on Blazersedge. Blazers fans (or perhaps Aussies disquised as Blazers fans) showed Patty a lot of love in the poll on this page:

http://linky.com.au/objwe

I still think he gets waived, but a few people make the argument that Udoka and Collins are both redundant too and that Patty has more upside, therefore they would rather keep him.

Talk is that there are at least three NBA teams that have expressed interest in Patty if he is waived by Portland. Plenty fo talk and banter going on still. Guess we have to wait a month to find out.

So if he is waived there is still a strong possibility that he will compete in the league for another franchise.

This is a useful link guys:

http://linky.com.au/ss096

Blazers fans are still waiting on details of the contract, but seem to think it will be non-guaranteed and that they will waive him before the season starts.

The good thing about that, for those of us worried the Blazers will just hold onto Mills rights but not play him, is that if they do waive him he will be a FA and can seek the right team to play for.

Wow, that is most unexpected. All the reports were saying Udoka was going to get the final roster spot and that Mills was about to become a FA.

Positive in the sense that Mills now has an income and that the Blazers think he has sufficient value to ensure they retain his rights. Could become a negative in time if Mills is unable to get playing time with whichever team Portland sends him to, but I think overall its a good thing for him to get some security while he rehabs.

That leaves me two questions:
- Is there a chance the Blazers have a trade in the works for Blake or Bayless that might open up a roster spot and some playing time for Mills?
- Will the Blazers try to talk Mills into playing overseas, or will they be happy with his original intentions to stay in the US (in which case he will probably play D-league).

Wow! Didn't see that coming!
Only issue for Mills now is playing time. I still think he will be sent to the D-League like Jawai was at the Raptors get some playing time under his belt...

NBA Link: http://linky.com.au/2k79y

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers signed guard Patrick Mills to a contract, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Portland selected Mills (6-0, 185) with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft after playing two seasons at St. Mary’s (CA) College.

Mills, who fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during an NBA Summer League practice session on July 9, underwent successful surgery on July 13 and is continuing his rehabilitation on schedule.

The Australian national was an early entry candidate for the NBA Draft out of St. Mary’s, where he posted averages of 16.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.97 steals in two seasons. Mills, 21, was a First Team All-WCC selection as a freshman and sophomore.