The 2016/17 campaign brought a changing of the guard on the Spurs. Tony Parker may have started 63 games for the club, but Patty Mills earned the distinction of best point guard on the team this season with his accurate 3-point stroke and his ability to create offense for his teammates.
How long Mills reigns with that unofficial title depends on the front office. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and he’ll have no shortage of suitors once his camp begins to take meetings.
Coach Gregg Popovich doesn’t want to make a big deal of Mills’ play. “I don’t want to talk too much about Patty Mills because the more good things I say, the more we’re going to have to pay him,” Pop said (via Michael Lee of The Vertical).
The Spurs have roughly $73MM on the books for the 2017/18 campaign against a projected $101MM salary cap. The team could offer Mills a sizable deal, but that would preclude them from making a big splash in free agency.
What do you think? What kind of deal should the Spurs offer Mills and if he decides to go elsewhere, which rival team would make a good fit for the Australian point guard?
Let us know what you think in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!
I think SA needs to lock Patty long term unless they think Murray will be ready to step into a bigger role sooner rather than later
Starter and move Parker to bench or keep him as reserve?
3 years $40 m
They should match anything he is offered short of a max or near max deal to make sure he doesn’t go anywhere else. They have his bird rights to go over the cap and he fits so well with their team. Parker’s future is bleak and Dejounte Murray needs some seasoning so I think they’ll pay Patty Mills and it will be very well deserved. He’s such a good player that he’d fit on any team.
Not RFA
Yeah but they can offer the same as other teams which I think is what he meant and Mills hasn’t shown much interest in leaving.
Would be interesting if they lose Mills and the Jazz end up priced out of Hill, maybe a Spurs reunion is possible?