According to a report from the Australian site TheAge.com (H/T Starting5.com), San Antonio Spurs reserve point guard Patty Mills will most likely be opting out of the final year of his contract and test the free agent market. Mills has until June 25 to opt out of his contract and here is what he told the Age.
”I feel like I need to do my due diligence and really go and see what there is to make sure I explore every option,” Mills said.
”But in saying that, I really enjoy being in San Antonio and being part of that program. I definitely want it done soon and that is what I’m trying to do so that I can get it out of the way and go to London with a clear head with the Boomers.”
Mills is set to make a little less than a million dollars this coming season with the Spurs, and he may have increased his stock in free agency with his superb play off the bench in the 16 games he played with San Antonio in the regular season. Mills averaged 10.3 points while shooting 49% from the field, and 43% from 3-point range.
He wasn’t a major part of the Spurs’ playoff rotation but showed he can put up points in a hurry with his regular season performances. In the last two games of the regular season, the Spurs’ “big three” of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker all didn’t play and rested for the playoffs. Mills led the team to back-to-back wins where he scored 27 points against the Phoenix Suns and 34 points against the Golden State Warriors.
According to the report, Mills is trying to get his NBA situation wrapped up as soon as possible so he can focus on the Olympics where he’ll be coached by Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown and leading the Australian National team at the 2012 games.
