The Sixer Sense
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Should the Philadelphia 76ers Target Patty Mills in Free Agency this Offseason?

By Matty Breisch

Jan 5, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) controls the ball in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (L) talks with San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (R) at the conclusion of the game at Wells Fargo Center. The San Antonio Spurs won 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (L) talks with San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (R) at the conclusion of the game at Wells Fargo Center. The San Antonio Spurs won 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Australian Connection

Patty Mills’ name hasn’t come up excessively in regards to the 76ers upcoming offseason, but it probably should be. Mills has a longer relationship with Sixers coach Brett Brown than any player on the 76ers roster. Mills started at shooting guard for the Brett Brown coached Australian National team in the FIBA World Championship in 2010, and on the 2012 London Olympics team.

This relationship likely played a part in Patty Mills’ signing with the Spurs in 2012 after playing two seasons in china, as Brett Brown was the team’s assistant coach and director of player development. Even though it’s been four years since Brown formally couched Mills, there is obviously no love lost between the pair. In a recent interview with Comcast Sports Net after the most recent Sixers Spurs game Mills’ said “I love him (Brett Brown). He’s one of my all-time favorite coaches.”