Tag: Patty Mills

Patty Mills chose to sign with Nets over Lakers in free agency

San Antonio Spurs free agent guard Patty Mills is choosing the Brooklyn Nets over the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency.

Ever since acquiring Russell Westbrook in a trade with the Washington Wizards, the Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to several veterans in free agency.

So far, the Lakers have picked up plenty of experienced players to surround the new trio of Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, Wayne Ellington and Carmelo Anthony were all signed to one-year deals for the minimum, so the Lakers’ title chase in 2021-22 will be serious.

Another name the Lakers were hopeful would sign was Patty Mills, who was one of the San Antonio Spurs’ free agents.

Mills would’ve played an imperative role as a scoring ball-handler off the bench who could drill threes at a high volume.

However, Mills landed with the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year deal worth $12 million, putting the Lakers’ plans on a new route.

Mills reportedly chose the Nets over the Lakers, via longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein:

But it looks like Los Angeles had a backup plan in place as it signed Malik Monk to a minimum deal in free agency. Monk, 23, should have a similar role as Mills would’ve had, though Monk has more potential on the defensive end of the floor as he continues to polish his offensive skills.

Only time will tell if Mills made the right decision.

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The Spurs paid tribute to NCAA women’s basketball legends with pre-game jerseys

The Spurs showed love to more players than just Becky Hammon.

Before their game against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday evening, the San Antonio Spurs paid tribute to some of the best players who have ever stepped on the floor during the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Especially after the pathetic weight room originally provided to the NCAA women’s teams and all of the other ways the NCAA has failed its women’s tournament, it was refreshing to see such support from such a respected NBA team.

Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray got things started with a hat tip to his assistant coach, Becky Hammon, who is a legend both on and off the floor.

Hammon, who has been an assistant for San Antonio since 2014, was once one of the best college basketball players in the nation. She ran point for the Colorado State Rams from 1995 until 1999, leading her mid-major squad to the Sweet Sixteen.

Spurs veteran DeMar DeRozan entered the arena wearing a Cheryl Miller jersey.

Miller, like DeRozan, played college basketball for the USC Trojans from 1982 until 1986. She won Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year during three consecutive seasons, securing national championships in 1986 and 1987 as well.

Her jersey number, No. 31, is retired by the University of Southern California.

Rudy Gay was rocking a jersey from Rebecca Lobo, who is celebrated as one of the most decorated athletes in the history of UCONN’s prestigious women’s basketball program.

Lobo helped lead the team to an undefeated record and a national title in 1995. It was only the second time that a women’s team ran the table for an entire season.

Of course, NBA veteran guard Patty Mills had to show some love to his wife, former Saint Mary’s wing Alyssa Levesque.

Mills, who is one of many Australian basketball players who have attended Saint Mary’s in California, met Alyssa when they were both in college in the late 2000s.

They were married in July 2019 and reportedly have a pretty cute pre-game coffee routine scheduled for whenever the Spurs play in San Antonio.

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Report: Sixers have expressed interest in trading for Spurs guard Patty Mills

The Philadelphia 76ers have an interest in acquiring San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills.

The 2020 NBA draft is rapidly approaching and that means the Philadelphia 76ers are doing their final preparations for draft night. For a team like the Sixers, they are in an interesting position as they try and improve their team for the future.

New president Daryl Morey is not a guy who is timid when it comes to making any bold moves or trades so there is no guarantee that they even make the pick at 21 on Wednesday. The Sixers are also in a position where a winnow guy is a bigger need rather than a rookie who needs some development right now.

Due to these facts and Morey’s tendency to pull the trigger on big deals, it is no surprise to hear of anything involving the Sixers and the word “trade”. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer has put out his latest mock draft and he reports that the Sixers have expressed interest in acquiring Patty Mills from the San Antonio Spurs.

O’Connor reports:

The Spurs are up to something. League sources say they’re shopping point guard Patty Mills, with teams such as the Bucks and Sixers expressing interest. A deal with Philadelphia would probably bring back Josh Richardson, league sources say.

Mills is coming off a productive season in San Antonio where he averaged 11.6 points and 1.8 assists while shooting 38.2% from deep on 6.1 attempts. That means he puts up enough threes while also knocking down enough to space the floor and make defenses worry about him.

While Richardson is probably a better player than Mills right now, this is all about fit. Richardson is more of a glue guy who will do it all, but he is not the knockdown shooter that this team needs at the moment. Not to say Mills is JJ Redick or anything, but he is an upgrade in the shooting department to that point. [lawrence-related id=39028,39005,39002]

Anthony Tolliver, his Pistons teammate …

Anthony Tolliver, his Pistons teammate from 2016 to 2018: We’re actually business partners now. I brought him in on a deal that I was doing called BigBlanket.com, and of course, he’s the perfect spokesperson for it. We had a photo shoot at my house actually earlier this year, and, yeah, he’s literally the perfect person for that. Patty Mills, his Spurs teammate for the 2015-16 season: (I introduced him to) the word Bala, which means brother in my language. I played against him whenever it was, the under-19 world championships, that was probably 2006 or so. I’ve kinda known him playing international at the junior level, and seeing him around.

Steven Adams, Patty Mills have a little Australasia guitar-off

After San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills posted a guitar video to Twitter, OKC Thunder center Steven Adams countered with one of his own.

San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills has been posting short snippets of himself playing guitar to Twitter and encouraging others to respond with videos of their own while stick in quarantine.

On Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams responded with a guitar riff of his own. He tweeted it and put an entire line of New Zealand flag emojis in the caption. Mills is from Australia.

Adams finished his part with a little not-safe-for-work gesture by flipping a kiwi at the camera.

Mills responded good-naturedly, quote-tweeting it with “Even Aussies & Kiwis are getting along during this tough time” and complimenting the New Zealand prime minister.

NBA players have had to find ways to entertain themselves since the season was suspended on March 11. Many have taken to social media, using TikTok or Twitter to make videos for fan interaction.

Thunder power forward Darius Bazley made a video in which he made a “buzzer-beater” shot inside his house and then used the “post-game interview” to warn viewers about the coronavirus.

Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari teamed up with Jr. NBA to share an at-home stretch that can be done with a partner.

Now Adams is joining in on the fun with Mills, too.

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David Aldridge: The @TheNBPA announces …

Calling the devastating brush fires …

Calling the devastating brush fires raging across Australia, “a national crisis that is hard to comprehend,” Spurs guard Patty Mills said Monday he is teaming with other Aussies in the NBA to raise awareness of the staggering toll the disaster has had on their homeland. “Us Australian boys have come together and are working on something to make the right impact and will make the right sense, something that can be long lasting,” Mills said.

Warriors drop ball on New Year’s Eve, falling 117-113 in San Antonio

The Warriors close out the decade with an overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, 117-113.

Even with the magic of a new year on the horizon, the AT&T Center is a house of horrors for the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have struggled to find wins in San Antonio, only winning three games in 31 attempts since the opening of the AT&T Center in 2002. With three key players hitting the injury report before tip-off, things weren’t any easier.

D’Angelo Russell (shoulder), Willie Cauley-Stein (illness) and Kevon Looney (abdominal soreness) all didn’t suit up for San Antonio putting the Warriors at a disadvantage from the start.

Even with a shorthanded rotation, Steve Kerr’s squad battled the Spurs down to the win in their last game of the decade, falling in overtime 117-113.

The Warriors took a two-point advantage into halftime, but Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t go down easy. The Spurs lead going into the final period. However, a valiant effort from rookie Alen Smailagic, Damion Lee and Alec Burks forced the game into overtime.

In the extra period, the Warriors’ light rotation started to catch up with them, as they had no answer for San Antonio backcourt of Mills, Dejounte Murray and Bryn Forbes.

Countdown to GR3

After bouncing around the NBA in his young career, Robinson III looks like he’s found a home in Golden State. Robinson continued his career season during the Warriors’ New Year’s Eve date with the Spurs, adding 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field.

Without Russell, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, Robinson turned into Golden State’s lead scoring option in San Antonio. The Michigan Wolverine product gave the Warriors a chance to steal a game in San Antonio with his play in the first half. Robinson paced the Warriors in the first half, scoring 18 of his points early.

Lee closes out 2019 making a case for a full-time roster spot

Two-way contract guard is putting in the Warriors in a tough place with his hot play of late. Lee’s solidified himself as the Warriors shooting guard to start 2020, but only has limited time left on his 45-day, two-way contract.

Lee is doing everything he can to make a case for him to stick around with the big club for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, with his game in San Antonio being the perfect example.

Lee tallied 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, adding seven rebounds and two assists. Lee played solid defense down the stretch while hitting a few clutch shots in the fourth quarter, including a three as the play clock expired.

Alec Burks leads Warriors into 2020

Similar to Robinson III, swingman, Burks stepped up with Russell out and got buckets. Burks carried the Warriors down the stretch, nailing several big shots to add to his game high-28 points. The Colorado product was on fire from beyond the arc, hitting four of five shots from long range.

Burks’ stellar play of late could force the Warriors to make a tough decision with the veteran. To start 2020, trading Burks now, or keeping him as a piece for when Curry and Thompson’s return will be a question the Warriors’ front office will have to answer.

Nets face unpredictable opponent in Spurs on Thursday

The Brooklyn Nets can’t overlook Gregg Popovich’s coaching ability — even with this year’s disappointing San Antonio Spurs team.

The San Antonio Spurs are off to a strong start in their candidacy for 2019-20’s most disappointing team.

The Spurs were a playoff team just last season and, as the No. 7 seed, took the Denver Nuggets to game seven in the first round of the playoffs. And they still have the majors pieces from that team: DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Derrick White, Bryn Forbes and Rudy Gay. Plus, San Antonio has Dejounte Murray back from his ACL tear. Marco Belinelli and Patty Mills are still around, too. Jakob Poeltl is a tough interior defender.

Now, this group has knocked off the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers, but they also lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not to mention the Pistons blew them out of Detroit to the tune of 34 points.

The Pistons have beaten Brooklyn, too, but only by four and in the early stages of the season, when the Nets didn’t have an identity. Now Brooklyn does, though. The Spurs, not so much.

But unlike the Cavs, San Antonio has what should be a strong core. The Spurs can absolutely steal a win on Thursday, especially since the game is on their turf.

Also, if the Nets play like they did in New Orleans, they’ll be in trouble.

Though, the fact the Nets were sloppy against the Pelicans could work to their own benefit in San Antonio. Kenny Atkinson wanted to go over the offense before the game, so Brooklyn should be a bit more refined on Thursday.

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