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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Summary
In the Orlando bubble, Mills acted more like an assistant coach than a player, which made it seem like the Spurs were handing the keys over to their young guards like Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, and Lonnie Walker. However, Mills showed this season that he can still contribute as a player. He's a microwave scorer off the bench, hitting 38% from three, and letting it fly whenever he gets an opening.
Despite being 32 years old, Mills still moves well and is playing nearly 25 minutes per game. Due to his shooting ability, he could really help a lot of teams, and I expect him to get interest from most contenders this summer. Due to his size, Mills doesn't thrive on defense, but he's not a complete target that some players of his stature are. Mills has never been an elite playmaker or someone that you want running a lot of pick-and-rolls, but he fits in perfectly with second units or teams with wings that operate as primary ball-handlers.
Cap Considerations
Mills will be an unrestricted free agent with full Bird rights. As his cap hold ($20.8 million) exceeds the salary he will get in free agency, his cap hold is not really relevant. If the Spurs re-sign Mills, his cap hold will be replaced by his starting salary, and the Spurs may still have some cap space available depending on his salary and what happens with their other free agents. If Mills is brought back by the Spurs on a multi-year contract, they could benefit from frontloading his contract, as it could give them additional flexibility in the future.
Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Mills as even teams without cap space could possibly use either of the Non-Taxpayer MLE, Taxpayer MLE, or possibly even the Room MLE to sign him.
Potential Teams: 76ers, Spurs, Suns, Pelicans, Heat
Predicted Contract: 1-year, $4 million with the 76ers
Actual Contract: 2-year, $12.1 million (player option) with the Nets
Mills got a two-year deal with a player option at the full Taxpayer MLE from Brooklyn, and should fit in well as a shooter around their stars.
Last updated: 8/19/2021
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