In the last ten years, the NBA has seen a significant transition. Teams are shooting 3-pointers at a higher rate than ever before, and the game is moving much faster. Consequently, many teams are now on the hunt for excellent shooters. Thankfully, this year's crop of free agents will have some of the top shooters available, like Patty Mills.
For more than a decade, Mills has excelled as a three-point specialist, especially with the San Antonio Spurs. Last season, Mills played in 81 games for the Brooklyn Nets. He shot 40.0 percent from beyond the arc and sank 2.7 three-pointers per game.
The Australian has a 38.9 percent career three-point shooting percentage and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down despite being 33 years old. Mills just declined his player option with the Nets, and the unrestricted free agent could surely be a terrific asset to any club looking to raise their perimeter production.
Patty Mills has declined his $6.2 million option, becoming a free agent, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/Vi8eqMotrN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 29, 2022
3 best destinations for Patty Mills in 2022 NBA free agency:
3. Milwaukee Bucks
The 2021 NBA champions will be on a redemptive campaign next season, and they could potentially target Mills.
While he can possibly still stay with the Brooklyn Nets, Mills will likely look for a more stable team environment. The Bucks should fit that mold, and they need a dead-shot like him as well, especially after they missed Khris Middleton's touch late in the 2022 postseason.
Mills also provides playmaking and seasoned leadership, which will be a good complement to Milwaukee's championship experience.
The Bucks could give Mills their entire mid-level exception, which would be worth over $6 million a year. If Milwaukee does land Mills, he ought to be a crucial rotation player with unlimited shooting potential.
2. Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics will put a high focus on strengthening the bench this summer, and a knockdown shooter should be high on their wish list.
During their NBA Finals series against the Golden State Warriors, the Celtics' poor playmaking and spotty three-point shooting were painfully exposed. Brad Stevens will try to deepen the guard rotation to address these issues, and Mills could be just what the doctor ordered.
Mills could allow Boston to play small-ball at a dangerously efficient level, and he can space the floor much better than any guard the Celtics had last season.
In addition, Mills would undoubtedly enter the Celtics locker room with a number of connections already in place. Perhaps the strongest of these is with head coach Ime Udoka, who was a former assistant for the San Antonio Spurs when Mills was still playing there. That can soften any adjustment from Brooklyn to Boston and help make the Aussie feel comfortable quite quickly.
1. Brooklyn Nets
When Brooklyn attracted Mills with its taxpayer mid-level exception last summer, he was heavily sought after by nearly every rival (including the Celtics). Mills might have regretted joining the Nets, though, as they were a pretty bad team and were mired in controversy.
Given recent developments, the Nets should be in much better shape entering the 2022-2023 season. The Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant duo will be among the most potent in the league, and an in-form Ben Simmons could make them a real contender. If Mills stays and continues to shoot like people know he can, that might take them over the hump.
On the flip side, Mills may explore his choices and maybe get paid more wherever he goes. Keep in mind, however, that his player-option compensation would have been larger than the taxpayer mid-level exemption that most competitors could provide.
And yet, the Nets may offer much more. They could re-sign Mills using the Non-Bird Exception for a beginning salary of up to $7,068,000 and then continue to enhance their squad by using their taxpayer mid-level exception on another player. That could spell NBA Finals and then some.
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