The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Mills will need surgery to repair his shoulder after playing through pain during the season:
Fairfax Media can reveal Mills will have surgery in the coming days to repair the rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
Mills played through pain during the season and scans revealed the wear and tear injury just two weeks after he helped lift the San Antonio Spurs to an NBA title and on the first day of free agency.
Mills was coming off his best season as a pro and was in line for a serious pay raise, whether he decided to stay with the Spurs or move on. This news could seriously jeopardize that opportunity.
Mills was supposed to play with the Australian team this summer in the World Cup to be held in Spain but that's obviously now out of the question. An optimistic projection of a six month recovery would have him returning around Christmas.
It was a bit strange to hear rumors about the Spurs being interested in guards in free agency but it was even stranger to not hear Mills' name thrown around. This injury might explain both situations.
The Spurs could still re-sign Mills, hoping he can recover by the second half of the season. His asking price surely went down. But with Cory Joseph in place already and enough flexibility to add someone else, it's possible this is the last we've seen of Patty in the Silver and Black.
Injuries are always terrible but especially when they happen to people like Mills. The Australian guard worked relentlessly to get in shape for his contract year and contributed to the Spurs' championship. He deserved to play for his national team and to get paid. The former won't happen and it really doesn't look like the latter will, either.
We wish Mills a speedy recovery and we would love to see him back in San Antonio.
We will update you when more information becomes available.
Update: ESPN's Mark Stein reports that the Spurs are likely to bring back Mills.
Strong likelihood, I'm told, is Patty Mills re-signing w/San Antonio & taking 'til January to recover. Firmer diagnosis to come post-surgery
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) julio 2, 2014
Spurs & Mills, I'm told, already talking new deal ... but injury bound to shrink what might've been promising market for flammable shooter
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2014
Update 2: Mills will likely be out until March, the Spurs still interested.
After surgery to repair torn rotator cuff, Patty Mills will likely be out until March, sources tell Yahoo. Spurs still want to re-sign him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2014