Utah Jazz: Potential Point Guard Targets if George Hill Can’t Be Retained

Patty Mills

Although Tony Parker is the starter in San Antonio, as one would expect he is beginning to decline with age. Fortunately for the Spurs, however, they don’t lose a whole lot when he goes to the bench as their backup point guard, Patty Mills, has proven to be exceptional.

In a minimal 22.1 minutes off the bench, Mills is averaging 9.9 points per game on a solid 44.7 percent from the field and an incredible 42.2 percent from behind the arc. And although he still comes off the bench, he has given the Spurs superb minutes and has shown in almost every way that he’s capable and ready to lead a team as their starting point guard.

In seven starts this season, Mills is averaging 13.6 points and six assists while boosting his shooting percentage even further at a clip of 47.9 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from deep. This ability to step up when it’s needed most is further proof that Mills is ready to step into the spotlight and take over as a team’s lead point man.

Not to mention, this season the Spurs have been at their best when Patty Mills is on the floor by a significant margin. San Antonio has an offensive rating of 113.1 with Mills on the court. That’s the second highest on the team behind only Kawhi Leonard, and with starter Tony Parker on the floor the Spurs’ offensive rating is over three points less at 109.8.

Defensively, the Spurs have been at their best with Mills in action as they’ve posted a defensive rating of 98.4 with him on the floor, one of the best on the team. With Parker that rating has been 102.5. Combine the exceptional boost that Mills brings on offense and defense and he gives the team the highest net rating when he’s on the court of any player on the team at 14.6.

Mill’s exceptional defensive rating isn’t surprising given that he is a pesky and relentless defender and despite being slightly undersized has proven capable of flustering some of the better point guards in the league.

And while Mills won’t demand nearly as lucrative of a contract as the aforementioned guys, the Spurs are a team with several free agents and many financial decisions to make. They’ve obviously been thrilled with Mills, but depending on where they put their priorities during the offseason and what they see as the best fit for their future, they may very well decide to dedicate their money elsewhere.

But even if the Spurs are willing to pay for Mills, given the fact that he’s an unrestricted free agent, if he has a desire to test new waters or head to a team where he has the opportunity to be a starter, he very well could. And the fact that he won’t be as expensive as some of the league’s other free agent point guards could work well for the Jazz.

With a significant amount of money set to be wrapped up in Gordon Hayward and with several other players on soon-to-expire contracts, a solid yet underrated player looking for his first opportunity to prove himself as a legitimate starter could be a great pickup for Utah.

Not to mention, as an Aussie himself and already a friend to Joe Ingles, Mills would likely fit in very well with him and this Jazz team while particularly serving as an effective mentor to fellow Australian Dante Exum.

Especially with Tony Parker in the tail end of his career and with Mills seemingly happy and thriving in San Antonio, I would be a little surprised if an agreement isn’t reached between those two parties. Nevertheless, if Hill leaves and Mills shows any hint of interest in pursuing other opportunities, then Utah should most definitely be open to adding the Aussie phenom.