Charlotte Hornets planned to pursue San Antonio Spurs’ Patty Mills

The Hornets were going to pursue Patty Mills before his injury

San Antonio Spurs’ reserve point guard Patty Mills hoped to cash in as a free agent this offseason but after he had surgery to repair a torn right rotator cuff, teams seemingly backed off.

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According to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express News, the Charlotte Hornets planned to make a play for Mills before his injury.

"The threat of surgery, not to mention a six-month timetable for recovery, naturally dampened the free-agent demand for Mills. Teams that had planned to make a pitch for his services, such as Charlotte, had changed course even before Mills was out of anesthesia.All of a sudden, what should have been a buoyant summer spent touring his home country with fellow Australian Aron Baynes and the Larry O’Brien Trophy became clouded with doubt.Convinced Mills would be good as new if they could wait half a season for him to heal, the Spurs offered him a three-year, $12 million deal to return. Mills was grateful for it."

It all may have worked out for Mills anyway – he’ll make $11 million over the next three years while continuing to play for the NBA’s best franchise.

Mills is coming off of an excellent season in which he averaged 10.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 46.4% from the floor, 42.5% from beyond the arc and 89.0% from the free throw line.

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