Pat Mills declares for NBA draft

[Skindog the Hawk]

Teleconference being held at the moment with Mills and Basketball Australia - Mills has not engaged an agent so will be able to withdraw himself without affecting his eligibility.

I would assume a press release from BA will follow soon enough.

SD.

[Clips]

Nevermind.

[Clips]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/news/story?id=4075787

[haggard]

The guy would have benefitted from one more year at college..

but then again, it is a weak draft and has a good chance at getting selected in the first round.

[Clips]

He hasn't signed an agent, so he can pull out and return to college anyway...

[PyroCross]

If he goes back, he'll be a guaranteed first rounder in 2010, maybe even lottery.

After doing mock drafts and the like, Mills is stuck in scouts' eyes behind a glut of PGs in this draft and I'm not sure if he can do enough to bypass some of them - even if some think he is better. At the moment, he is a fringe first/second because the draft is so guard-heavy, especially with 'Point Guards' (some are more scoring than distributing but anyhow). If he went back to St Mary's and worked a bit on that distribution game (whilst potentially grabbing some of the spotlight Stephen Curry had at Davidson last year and excelling), he'll easily be the second PG taken in the 2010 draft because the top is big-heavy, apart from John Wall.

Hopefully he gets some good scouting and gets told he's not a guaranteed first, so heads back to Saint Mary's.

[stylin]

Looks like Patrick Mills may go as a number 1 draft pick. They have him at 18 for Minnesota.

http://www.nbadraft.net/2009mock_draft

[Clips]

They had him at 21 to the Hornets the other day.

I've found Draftexpress.com to be more reliable in the past, they have him at #30 for the Cavs.

[Da Houndawg #55]

Me? I have him mid to late first round. I'd be pretty disappointed and shocked if he slipped to the second.

I could even see, and would quite like, Phoenix grabbing him as a tempo setting backup to Steve Nash, also be good for their future as well.

[RedbackVenom]

ESPN.com and NBA.com are both running with stories that our own Patty Mills is staying in the draft and is set to hire an agent.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=4223003

He also states he wishes to play for Golden State and remain in the Bay area.

[gangsta boo]

This is probably dumb but imagine if he could team up with Bogut on the same NBA team

[RedbackVenom]

It's not dumb...would be a relatiovely good situation for him. However I don't think his up-tempo style of play would suit. I think Golden State, Dallas, Phoenix amongst others would be good situations for him.

[gangsta boo]

I like the idea purely from a Boomers standpoint if it were to work

[Wallitron]

I think Golden State, Dallas, Phoenix amongst others would be good situations for him.

Knicks also.

[PyroCross]

He's definitely a late first, the fact he's staying in probably means he has a guarantee somewhere.

I'd definitely like to see him in Sac-Town, especially if they don't pick a Point Guard at #4. He then just needs to beat Udrih for the starting gig, no biggie. I could also see LA possibly taking him as Derek Fisher is going over the hill, he would be a nice fit in the triangle when you think about it.

So I'm guessing either Sacramento at 23, Chicago at 25 or LA at 29. The problem is there are plenty of point guards above him that he probably won't be able to beat in stock (Obviously Rubio/Jennings, but then Holiday/Flynn/Maynor/Lawson/Teague).

[OKC Thunder]

He's definitely a late first, the fact he's staying in probably means he has a guarantee somewhere.

I'd definitely like to see him in Sac-Town, especially if they don't pick a Point Guard at #4. He then just needs to beat Udrih for the starting gig, no biggie. I could also see LA possibly taking him as Derek Fisher is going over the hill, he would be a nice fit in the triangle when you think about it.



I'd be surprised if LA take him. I think Phil is adverse to small guards.

[Wallitron]

Cavs have asked Bevo for a report on Mills.
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=16&ContentID=145626

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25579462-23769,00.html

He was set to leave for Europe on Wednesday to attend a showcase camp in Italy for European teams, but instead opted to have further workouts with the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and fellow Australian Andrew Bogut's Milwaukee Bucks.

[Mike]

Mills putting up some big numbers at the Euro camp


Australian Patrick Mills was absolutely the star of the evening’s all-star game, posting an impressive 30 point performance on 8/18 shooting from the field and 12/13 from the line. Mills handled the ball on a string all game long, showing terrific quickness keeping his man off balance, and making an absolute living in the mid-range area with his deadly pull-up jumper. His ability to utilize strong hesitation moves makes him extremely difficult to stay in front of, and he did a good job not settling for tough shots from beyond the arc today, getting to the line repeatedly. He clearly thrives in up-tempo settings such as the one seen in today’s all-star game, which came in stark contrast to his morning performance, where he seemed to over-dribble somewhat while trying to create in the half-court.



however it seems he's getting the CDR treatment by only focusing on what he can't do rather than what he can do

NBA teams we spoke to still expressed some doubt regarding his point guard skills, which is something he could still stand to work on. He posted 3 assists compared with 4 turnovers in the evening game, seeming to be hunting shots quite a bit, and didn’t look all that comfortable getting others involved. Scouts generally were impressed by the quickness and shot-creating ability he showed, and he also did a better job defensively today as well.

only 17 days til the NBA draft so it will be interesting where he ends up

[Vic Sage]

When, oh when, will the Yankees end?

[Da Houndawg #55]

When, oh when, will the Yankees end?

That FOX guide isn't accurate, the Draft's the 25th American Eastern time...

[Wallitron]

Starts tomorrow at 9:30am, right?

I just subscribed to ESPN and Ford has him at 31 to the Kings. I did a summary of the other boards here:

http://www.ozhoopsboards.com/showpost.php?p=173124&postcount=21

[Wallitron]

I just sent Shaq a tweet telling him to have the Cavs take Mills at 30. Everyone do the same.

https://twitter.com/THE_REAL_SHAQ

[gangsta boo]

just did it

[Wallitron]

First Summer League game is next Monday against Toronto. Mills v Jawai

[Nerf Herder]

First Summer League game is next Monday against Toronto. Mills v Jawai

Just saw that on the Blazers website... this should be good... hopefully there will be a feed or recording somewhere online (can't rely on Summer League coverage to make it over here, unfortunately :( )

Nate and Patty will be busy boys if they're playing Summer League and are gonna make it back for the next training camp starting on the 21st...