Other than CJ McCollum, the New Orleans Pelicans are young at guard and could use a veteran with some experience coming off the bench.
They could also use a boost of 3-point shooting, as they were near the bottom of the NBA in 3-point percentage for the second year in a row. Potential free-agent Patty Mills could help fix both problems.
At 33, Mills will be entering his 13th NBA season next year. Most recently, Patty Mills has played for the Brooklyn Nets and averaged 11.4 PPG, 2.3 APG, and 40% FG. He started 48 games for the Nets, averaging 29 minutes per game. He is an excellent three point shooter, making 40% this season on seven attempts per game. Mills rarely turns the ball over and would be a great mentor to someone like Jose Alvarado.
Mills got a ring with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and would be a welcome boost of experience off the bench for a young playoff team looking to do further next season.
The Pelicans went through guards this season before eventually trading for McCollum and making him the lead guard along with Brandon Ingram, but the Pels could use an experienced point guard to play with McCollum at times and boost their shooting off the bench.
The Nets only used Mills 48 times in the starting lineup, so the Pels could run him off the bench and he could play big minutes as a sub and in their crunch-time unit. He’s a guy who fill fit into the team concept and has skills the Pelicans need.
Mills has a player option for next season at $6.1 million and may be looking for a new home after the dysfunctional Nets were swept in the first round of the playoffs. The Pelicans would have to make some other moves to have cap space to sign him, but if they could make it happen, Mills would be a perfect fit.
There is also a chance that he exercises his option, in which case he could hit the trade market as the Nets try to shake things up and get a little younger.