The Miami Heat are reportedly close to acquiring veteran point guard Patty Mills in an attempt to strengthen a
wobbly guard rotation. To make place on the roster for Mills, the Heat will waive guard Dru Smith, a second-year
player. This season, Mills appeared in 19 games for the Atlanta Hawks before deciding to accept a buyout in
February. Since the start of the season, the Miami Heat have entirely changed the point guard position, and now
Patty Mills has joined the team to support Terry Rozier and Delon Wright.
Despite playing little this season, Mills, 35, averaged 2.7 points and 0.7 assists on 37.3% shooting from the field.
Previously, he played with the San Antonio Spurs for ten seasons (2011–2021), averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 assists, and
a 39% shooting percentage while providing consistent minutes off the bench.
Smith, who sustained a season-ending knee injury after an ungainly tumble in Cleveland during the team’s ninth
game, is replaced by Mills. After Smith was ruled out for the season, his contract became fully guaranteed, so this
move will increase the Heat’s salary and luxury tax liability.
Have low expectations. Mills played 59 games with the Nets and Hawks over the last two seasons, but those days are
behind him. Mills was once one of the league’s most reliable backup guards.
Despite never having been a primary facilitator, he has a lifetime 38.9% 3 point shooting percentage and can still
knock down open 3s. If and when he is on the court, that is all he will be required to do in Miami’s offense.
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Signing Mills is designed to address the team’s depth, while dealing for Terry Rozier was meant to improve the point
guard position and adding Delon Wright was meant to bring a ball-handler and point-of-attack defender of rotation
caliber. We’re looking at a scenario where the Heat only need an extra floor guard—a break-glass emergency.
There is no estimated date for Herro and Richardson’s return, and they are both out of Tuesday night’s game against
the Detroit Pistons. The unexpected addition of Mills raises the possibility that Herro, who missed three games due
to a hyperextended knee and was sidelined for a longer period of time than anticipated due to right foot pain on
Saturday, may not return as soon as anticipated.
Richardson left Miami’s game against the Boston Celtics on February 11 due to a dislocated right shoulder, and he
hasn’t played since.
Mills is not included in the rotation, even with Herro and Richardson sidelined. Rozier, Wright, and Duncan
Robinson all still on the Heat, but they are just one injury away from becoming dangerously thin at the position.
Mills was signed as a result.
