I first caught a glimpse of Patty Mills in Shanghai four years ago, and it was a good thing I didn’t blink. The speedster was playing in an exhibition game for Australia against team USA, and twice he outraced Chris Paul downcourt for fast-break layups.
That was back when Mills was still playing college ball at St. Mary’s in California, and Mills eventually made it to the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers before signing in China with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers during the NBA lockout, then leaving the team in January.
Mills did not receive a release from FIBA until after March 1, the deadline for which restricted free agents could sign offer sheets this season, leaving him at the mercy of the Trail Blazers.
But after Portland acquired Johnny Flynn from Houston at the trade deadline, joining a backcourt that already includes Ray Felton and Nolan Smith, the Blazers renounced his rights on Saturday.
That cleared the way for Mills to get another job, and he has found one with the San Antonio Spurs as Tony Parker’s backup. Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown is the coach of the Australian national team, and head coach Gregg Popovich has always been especially enamored of players who have shown their skills on an international stage.
Mills is expected to join the Spurs early this week as they try to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the Western Conference. Sam Amick of SI.com said Mills will get a two-year contract, with the second year being a player option.
Another player who spent the season in China and had his options reduced by the new March 1 deadline was Wilson Chandler, who was considering playing out the rest of this season in Italy if he couldn’t get fairly compensated by the team that held his restricted free agency rights, the Denver Nuggets.
After weeks of negotiations, Chandler will receive a five-year, $37 million deal, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
“It is great to have Wilson back on our roster,” Denver general manager Masai Ujiri said in a news release. “It was a very unique situation signing a talented free agent in the middle of the season, and we worked extremely hard to find an agreement that was best for everyone. Wilson will be an excellent addition for the rest of this season and for years to come.”
Chandler, 6-8, 225, averaged 15.3 points and a career-high 5.7 rebounds in 72 games with Denver and the New York Knicks last season. He joined the Nuggets as part of the three-team, 13-player Carmelo Anthony trade.
Chandler, 24, most recently played for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 26.6 points and 11.6 rebounds in 32 games. Selected 23rd overall by the Knicks in the 2007 NBA Draft, Chandler has averaged 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 254 career games.
Darn, hate to see Chandler not be with the Knicks, but I am happy he got the payday he so deserves!