Patty Mills wasn't exactly in demand when the Utah Jazz reached an agreement with him. At 36 years old, Mills is not the dependable backup point guard he was during his championship days with the Spurs.
However, The Athletic's Tony Jones explained why he appealed to the Jazz despite his old age.
"It’s Mills’ experience, his know-how, the way he prepares, the way he keeps himself in peak physical condition and his professionalism that the Jazz want," Jones wrote in an August 17 story.
Jones also delved into Mills' history with Jazz head coach Will Hardy, who he has experience working with.
"Mills, who played the final weeks of the 2023-24 season with the Miami Heat, has a longstanding relationship with Utah head coach Will Hardy, who cut his teeth as an assistant with the Spurs at the same time Mills was trying to establish himself as an NBA player. Hardy never forgot how hard Mills worked to become a starting-level player in the league."
More than that, according to Jones, Utah's has kept their eyes on Mills for some time now.
"Utah has been interested in Mills for the better part of a year and almost acquired him close to the February trade deadline."
Note that Mills instead was waived by the Hawks, to which he then joined the Heat for their playoff run.
How the Jazz believe Mills will help
Though Jones noted that "Mills’ actual playing role is unclear as of this moment," he included how the Jazz believe Mills can help them long-term even if his playing days are winding down.
"At 36, Mills is not the same guy he was in his prime. It says a lot that he still brings value as a mentor. The Jazz are hoping that his habits rub off on the players it wants to see growth from."
Part of getting a rebuild right is properly developing young talent, and one of the best ways to do it is by having veteran mentors there so that young players can develop gracefully. It's not a foolproof plan, but talented young players reach their potential more often than not when they have the right influence on their team.
Mills might be more of an unofficial player development coach than an actual player at this point, but that just might be what the Jazz need in their rebuild.