SAN ANTONIO – It’s the end of an era as Patty Mills, the longest tenured Spurs player, is headed to Brooklyn. Mills is reportedly set to sign a 2-year deal with the Nets worth $12 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Mills is leaving San Antonio after 10 seasons with the franchise. Mills was the last remaining player on the Spurs 2014 championship team and the squad that made back-to-back NBA Finals in the mid-2010s.
Mills arrived in San Antonio in 2011 and became a key member of a Spurs bench that was considered to be one of the best in the NBA for years. He played a key role in the 2014 championship team, and his passion and fire on the court endeared himself to Spurs fans.
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He leaves San Antonio having played 665 games with the Spurs, the seventh-most in franchise history. He is second all-time in 3-point field goals made for the Spurs behind Manu Ginobili. He is first all-time in free throw percentage at 86%.
Mills is also a beloved member in the community. His work in the community for social justice and domestic abuse issues is widely regarded around the league. He’s spoken out for Indigenous groups and assisted in several community service initiatives in San Antonio and his native Australia. He is a supporter of small businesses and has donated to several local and international causes.
Mills’s departure leaves a massive hole in the locker room. He is a respected veteran and his corporate knowledge has ushered along a new era of Spurs basketball.
DEMAR LEAVING
Free agent DeMar DeRozan is reportedly signing a 3-year deal worth $85 million with the Chicago Bulls. DeRozan played three seasons in San Antonio and was part of the Kawhi Leonard trade. The Spurs will reportedly will take back forwards Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu and get a future first round pick and two second round selections from Chicago. The first round pick will not likely be sent to San Antonio until 2025.
Both Young ($14.2M) and Aminu ($10.2M) are on expiring contracts, meaning San Antonio could trade either later in the season or go into next offseason with some salary cap space, around $30 million.
This deal means San Antonio is likely out of running to sign a major free agent, including John Collins, Lauri Markkanen or Kelly Oubre.
OTHER NOTES FROM SPURS FREE AGENCY
As expected, Rudy Gay will not stay with the San Antonio Spurs after signing a new deal with the Utah Jazz. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Gay’s contract is for two years and $12.1 million. Gay had a productive four seasons with the first. Last season, he shot 38% from the 3-point line and averaged 11.4 points a game.
San Antonio agreed to a 3-year, $42 million deal with 6-foot-7 forward Doug McDermott. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the deal first and it has since been confirmed by KSAT-12 Sports. McDermott is entering 8th season in NBA after averaging 13.6 ppg and shooting nearly 39% from 3-point range last season with Pacers.
San Antonio has also agreed to a 3-year deal worth $22 million with Portland 6-foot-11 power forward Zach Collins. The deal was reported first by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and confirmed by KSAT-12 Sports. Collins played in only 11 games last year for Portland after injuring his foot. He averaged 7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and is only 23 years old. He also has outside range, shooting nearly 37% from 3-point range before getting injured.