In addition to tendering a qualifying offer to center Greg Oden, the Portland Trail Blazers announced on Wednesday that the team had extended a qualifying offer to guard Patty Mills as well. The offer to Mills makes him a restricted free agent and gives the Blazers matching rights.
This is a flexibility play. Qualifying Mills comes at a small cost and allows the Blazers to either bring him back on a one-year, low-dollar deal or enter into sign-and-trade scenarios with other teams if there is interest in his services. Had the Blazers elected not to offer Mills a Qualifying Offer, he would have walked as an unrestricted free agent.
This move signals that the Blazers believe he either has a future in Portland or has the potential for some level of trade value down the road. It also signals that Owner Paul Allen's obsession continues unabated.
Mills averaged 5.5 points and 1.7 assists in 12.2 minutes per game last season.
Extending the qualifying offer doesn't necessarily guarantee that Mills will be on the opening day roster and Portland's backcourt is obviously crowded with new starting point guard Raymond Felton and reserves Nolan Smith and Armon Johnson battling for minutes at the point guard position as well. Should Mills receive a solid offer from another team in free agency, there's a decent chance Portland would let him walk given the crowded point guard situation and the amount of salaries already committed.
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