Miami Heat free agent Patty Mills may have played his last FIBA international game as Australia bowed out of Olympic competition this week. Now, one of their country’s most storied players will look to sign with a team for the upcoming NBA season. Will it be with the Miami Heat?
Olympics Show Why Miami Heat Free Agent Should Return
Patty Mills Dazzles Against Serbia, but Australia Falls
Miami Heat free agent and 15-year NBA veteran Patty Mills has almost certainly played his final Olympic basketball game. If these Olympics are to be the last for Mills, let a green and yellow curtain close on a storied and legendary international and Olympic career.
After a rather bumpy shooting performance to begin pool play, Mills returned to form against Serbia in a wild quarterfinal match. It certainly was a wild tilt against Serbia, with the Boomers up by 24 at one point and eventually losing in overtime 95–90. It was a heartbreaking loss, to say the least. Mills had an incredible game despite not getting the outcome he or the Boomers wanted.
In a remarkable display of shooting and three-point accuracy, Mills tallied 16 points in just three and a half minutes. Like the saying goes, nothing but net. Finishing with 26 points, Mills left it all on the court in an excruciating loss to the Nikola Jokic-led Serbian team.
‘FIBA Patty’ leaves the Paris Olympics fifth place in Olympic basketball scoring, with 567 points. Achieving bronze in Tokyo in 2021 and making five Olympic appearances, Mills has carved out an incredible and respectable international basketball career for himself. He even surpassed former Spurs teammate Manu Ginobili in the process.
Mills Remains A Free Agent
That brings us to today as Mills finds himself a free agent with plenty of shooting ability still in his arsenal. He is not the shooter or player he was during his tenure with the San Antonio Spurs, that is certain. However, as presented in Paris, Mills can still shoot and score in waves.
After playing for San Antonio, Mills spent time with the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks and finished last season with the Miami Heat. With his veteran presence and championship experience, several NBA teams could use his skills. His three-point shooting is a valuable asset. The question remains: Where will he find a roster spot? Could it be with the Heat back in Miami?
Why the Miami Heat Should Bring Mills Back
It’s worth noting that Mills and the Heat are mutually interested in a reunion. Despite his modest 5.8 points per game after joining midseason, Pat Riley should consider bringing Mills back into the fold.
Miami needs scoring wherever it can get it. After an otherwise quiet offseason for the Heat, re-signing Mills gives them a shooting threat off the bench. The Olympics have shown that the veteran point guard can still produce when called upon. While his minutes in Miami would be limited, he can be a serviceable backup to Terry Rozier.
A couple months ago, Mills talked to the Miami Herald about his playing future.
“I take really good care of myself and my body,” said Mills. “The plan is to continue to play until the wheels fall off is how I see it. I’m feeling really good. This preparation that I’ve had now has been one of the best that I’ve probably ever had. I still got some more things to achieve.”
Mills still has fire inside of him and doesn’t plan on retiring at this point in his career.
