Patty Mills has been waived by Atlanta. Is it the end of his storied NBA career?

The news

Australian Boomers captain Patty Mills has been waived by the Atlanta Hawks, leaving him without a team just months out from Paris 2024.

The Hawks confirmed on Friday (AEDT) that Mills, earning $10.7 million this season, had been released, a day before the NBA’s March 1 buyout deadline, giving him the chance to sign with another team.

The development was not unexpected, for Mills, 35, had played in just 19 of Atlanta’s 58 games so far this season, averaging 2.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10.6 minutes of play, his lowest output since his rookie year with Portland in 2009-10.

He joined Atlanta after trades from Brooklyn to Houston, Oklahoma City and then to the Hawks through a dramatic off-season.

The spot-up shooter has played 15 seasons in the NBA for a total of 879 career games, including a decade with the San Antonio Spurs where he won a championship in 2014, and continues to have a close relationship with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

How did we get here

Mills has found it extremely difficult to win court time behind the Hawks’ dynamic backcourt of Dejounte Murray and All-Star Trae Young, although the latter is now out for four weeks after hand surgery.

The Hawks, in 10th spot in the eastern conference and fighting for a play-off berth, have been impressed by fellow guard Trent Forrest, particularly at the defensive end, and will convert his two-way contract with the G-League into a standard deal, filling the roster spot created by waiving Mills.

What happens next

Mills will hope to join a new team, ideally one that is in contention for the play-offs, or a championship contender, but there is the possibility his NBA career is over. There is a romantic link, should he return to the Spurs and finish his career there, where former Boomers coach Brett Brown, who played a key role in Mills joining the franchise all those years ago, and former Boomers teammate Matt Nielsen are assistant coaches.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said on the eve of the NBA season that he had hoped Mills would have returned to the Spurs. What is imperative is that the Canberra native is given court time, as Olympic selection is just around the corner. If his NBA career is over, expect NBL clubs to come knocking ahead of the 2024-25 season.

What does it mean for Mills and the Olympics?

If he can land in a more accommodating spot, then the Hawks’ move is a welcome break. If not, his Olympic hopes haven’t been overly harmed, for he could seek a short-term deal in Europe, while the Boomers will still have a pre-Olympic camp and warm-up games.

“Taking a high level, high opportunity European contract to finish the European season could be the best preparation for his final Olympic Games,” former Boomer Chris Anstey said on X on Friday.

Boomers stars Josh Giddey (3) and Patty Mills (5) share a moment.

However, there is intrigue in the behind-the-scenes machinations at play with the Boomers, for Mills and fellow Boomers’ legend Joe Ingles were told by Goorjian in robust discussions in December that their roles will change in Paris. Key players for more than a decade, including in the breakthrough bronze medal in Tokyo, both men are likely now to need to adjust to coming off the bench, for the young, athletic talent the squad now has means change is needed. That was clear in last year’s underwhelming World Cup.

Oklahoma City Thunder playmaker Josh Giddey is now the Boomers’ team leader, while fellow guards Dante Exum, the Dallas Maverick and best Boomer at the World Cup, Josh Green, also with the Mavericks, and Dyson Daniels, the injured but emerging New Orleans Pelican, need more court time. Then there’s defensive stopper Matisse Thybulle, now with Portland, Melbourne United pair Chris Goulding and Matthew Dellavedova who remain in Paris contention through strong NBL campaigns, while the Ben Simmons quandary remains unresolved.

Mills and Ingles, the latter playing well as a bench connector with Orlando, must be prepared to adjust to change, and the culture handover required of this. Goorjian says they understand his vision.

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