Patty Mills makes major $9m call to trigger NBA bidding war

Australian NBA star Patty Mills may become the subject of a biodding war after turning down his player option with the Brooklyn Nets.

Patty Mills is hitting free agency. (Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images)

Australian NBA star Patty Mills will enter free agency after turning down his $AUD9 million player option with the Brooklyn Nets.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the 33-year-old sharpshooter hasn’t ruled out a return to the Nets, but will test the market, with “significant interest” expected.

Mills averaged 11.4 points a game for Brooklyn during a tumultuous season, where he was asked to step up earlier in the campaign, before playing a bit-part role after the Nets’ mid-season moves.

Watch Australia v China FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup Qualifier Live with ESPN on Kayo. Thursday 30th June from 6:30PM AEST. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Still, Mills averaged 40 percent from three-point range.

Mills, who'll attract significant interest around the league, hasn't ruled out a return to the Nets, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/V3bPS7LXRd

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 29, 2022

Expected to challenge for the title, things turned sour for the Eastern Conference powerhouse as injuries, vaccines and one, big trade turned Brooklyn on its head.

With Irving’s drama not over yet, and a cloud hanging over Ben Simmons, Mills will have a big call to make this off-season.

Will Patty find a new home? Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP

Originally published as Patty Mills makes major $9m call to trigger NBA bidding war