Mills traded to Atlanta, NBA future remains unclear

Callan Morse Published July 11, 2023 at 9.30am (AWST)

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After a two-year stint with the Brooklyn Nets, Patty Mills finds himself on the Atlanta Hawks roster after being traded three times in the space of 10 days. (Image: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

Boomers star and proud proud Gugada, Nagi Agal, Dharawal, and Meriam man Patty Mills has been traded for the third time in less than two weeks.

After being shipped out of Brooklyn by the Nets to the Houston Rockets, who subsequently sent Mills to Oklahoma City shortly afterwards, Mills is now on the Atlanta Hawks roster, his NBA playing future remaining unclear.

In a cost cutting move from Atlanta, the Hawks sent guard TyTy Washington Jr., forwards Rudy Gay and Usman Garuba and a future second-round pick to the Thunder in exchange for Mills, according to reports from ESPN.

The deal sees the Thunder in possession of a staggering 35 draft picks, 15 of which are first-rounders in the next seven years.

Mills averaged 6.2 points per game in 14.2 minutes per game for the Nets during the 2022-23 season, down from the 11.2 points per game in 29.0 minutes per game the season previous. (Image: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

On the other hand the Hawks benefit financially, saving $4.5 million by taking on Mills, a 15-year pro's $6.8 million ($A10.2) expiring contract, giving up the future second-round pick in exchange for the additional salary space.

According to ESPN reports, the Hawks remain undecided whether Mills will be on the team's preseason roster.

The likelihood of Mills backing up Hawks all-star point guard Trae Young off the bench remains a possibility, with the pair being the only two point guards currently on Atlanta's roster.

Atlanta's first NBA preseason game is scheduled for October 14 against New Orleans.