On Monday, the Melbourne Tigers are set to announce one of the most remarkable recruiting successes in NBL history with the signing of Boomers guard Patty Mills.
Following two seasons with the Portland Trailblazers, Mills is a free agent available to the Tigers due to the NBA lockout that could potentially cancel the season.
Although Mills has a standing offer from Portland and might return to the NBA if the lockout concludes, the Tigers are eager to take advantage of the opportunity to sign the electrifying guard.
While there was no official comment from the Tigers on Sunday, they have organized a media conference for a major announcement scheduled for Monday morning.
It is reported that this deal has been in development for a considerable time.
Despite receiving offers from European teams, Basketball Australia has expressed that it will assist NBL clubs in signing Mills.
The Tigers already had a complete 10-man roster, indicating they may have to adjust their lineup to accommodate Mills within the salary cap and player points restrictions.
As one of the rare indigenous Australians to have competed in the NBA and represented the Boomers at the Olympics, Mills is expected to enhance the Tigers’ performance both on the court and off.
His speed and scoring prowess could make him a challenging matchup for defenders, and his presence is likely to draw larger crowds.
Melbourne fans will get their first opportunity to see Mills in action on September 7, when he captains the Boomers in Game One of the Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand at The Cage.
The NBL season is slated to begin on October 7.
by Buford Balony
