The Sixer Sense
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Jul 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers Summer League head coach Lloyd Pierce talks to forward Ben Simmons (25) on the bench during an NBA Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at Thomas & Mack Center. Golden State won the game 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers Summer League head coach Lloyd Pierce talks to forward Ben Simmons (25) on the bench during an NBA Summer League game against the Golden State Warriors at Thomas & Mack Center. Golden State won the game 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Veteran Leadership

Patty Mills is a 6-0 guard who hails from Canberra, Australia and has played in 412 NBA games. Ben Simmons, a 6-10 point forward from Melbourne, Australia, has yet to make his NBA debut. Both players grew up in Australia, but played their college ball in the USA.

Contrast the fact that Ben Simmons was the 2016 first overall pick in the NBA draft to the fact that Mills wasn’t selected until the second round of the 2009 NBA draft.  He ultimately jumped around between the NBA, the D League and the International League before finding a home in San Antonio. Though Mills and Simmons don’t play the same position, having a player from a similar background could be incredibly helpful for Ben Simmons’ transition, just as Luc Mbah a Moute served as a mentor both on and off the court for Joel Embiid. Though their situations aren’t identical, it could serve a similar purpose.

As the roster certainly stands, Mills could serve as a leader for the Sixers young core of players. Only Gerald Henderson and Ersan Illyosva have played in more NBA games than Mills, and neither is guaranteed to be on the roster in 2017. When you keep in mind that the 76ers could add as many as 3 rookie players in this year’s draft, a veteran leader becomes even more important. Signing Mills doesn’t preclude the 76ers from drafting a point guard early in the NBA draft, instead it insures that the 76ers will have at least one starting point guard who is a proven shooter, and doesn’t force a player to play before he is ready.