Oklahoma City look set to have the providers of three Australian Boomers for the subsequent NBA season, with Patty Mills reported to be becoming a member of the Thunder in a deal from the Houston Rockets.
Mills, who spent two years on the Brooklyn Nets after becoming a member of them from the San Antonio Spurs in 2021, seemed destined for the Rockets in day two of a loopy free-agency interval earlier than the 34-year-old was dealt to the Thunder.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Thunder will tackle Mills’ $US6.8 million ($A10.2m) expiring contract and obtain draft compensation as a part of the deal.
Mills would be part of rising star Josh Giddey on the Thunder together with fellow Australian and new NBA champion Jack White.
Victorian White signed a two-year cope with Oklahoma City after being a part of the Denver Nuggets’ championship-winning setup this season.
The transfer could be the third time an NBA facet had three Australians on the identical roster.
Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle and Jonah Bolden have been briefly along with the 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers, whereas Dante Exum, Thon Maker and Matthew Dellavedova have been with Cleveland in 2020.
Simmons, Mills and Melbourne-born USA worldwide Kyrie Irving have been all on Brooklyn’s roster within the just lately accomplished NBA season.
Giddey, Mills and White are all a part of the Australian Boomers’ 18-man squad named for this 12 months’s FIBA World Cup to be held throughout Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines from late August.
The new recruits are anticipated so as to add some punch to a Thunder facet who made the 2023 NBA play-in event and can welcome the providers of 2022 second total draft decide Chet Holmgren, who missed final season with a foot damage.
Mills and White are amongst a lot of Australians making strikes in free company, after former Phoenix Suns centre Jock Landale signed a four-year deal value $US32 million ($A48m) with the Rockets.
On the opening day of free company, Joe Ingles signed a two-year cope with the Orlando Magic, whereas Exum is reported to have secured a one-year cope with the Mavericks after serving to Serbian membership Partizan to this 12 months’s ABA League title.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
