San Antonio Spurs: Complete 2017 offseason grades

Re-signing Mills

With TP injured, Patty Mills being a free agent and Dejounte Murray being so inexperienced, it was no secret the Spurs needed a point guard heading into free agency. As often as names like Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry came up, San Antonio ultimately settled for keeping a fan favorite around.

By re-signing Mills to a four-year, $50 million deal, the Spurs are playing it safe with a comfortable, familiar option. Last year, the 28-year-old Aussie averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game, with 72 of his 80 appearances coming off the bench.

However, he stepped up when called upon in eight regular season and six playoff starts, and his 41.4 percent shooting from 3-point range was a welcome boost off the bench. He’ll either continue to anchor the second unit behind Murray, or keep a well-oiled machine running with the starters until TP can return.

However, as much as $12.5 million a year represents yet another team-friendly bargain for the Spurs, it’s not the high profile acquisition they needed to keep pace with the headliner offseasons of the Golden State Warriors or even the Houston Rockets. Mills will keep the engine running, but he doesn’t help the Spurs close the gap on that juggernaut down in Oakland.

Grade: B+