San Antonio Spurs: 3 goals for Patty Mills in 2020-21

Season goal for Patty Mills No. 3: Put pressure on the younger guys.

As stated earlier, Mills is 32 and is part of a core of four players over 30 years old whose contracts finish next season. While DeRozan is the youngest of the group at 31, both Gay and Aldridge are over 34 and the Spurs may be looking to move on from these two.

Mills will be looking to get another couple of years with the Spurs at the end of the 2020-21 season and as such will need to play some quality minutes in the upcoming season. However, the problem there is the Spurs will be promoting the next young players into the starting lineup.

The Australian is going to be fighting for minutes with Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Dejounte Murray, and Lonnie Walker. Fortunately for Mills, none of the other guards have his long term pedigree from 3-point land. This is going to help his cause.

However, no one is ever gifted playing time in the NBA, you have to earn it. Mills needs to push the younger guys into better play so that they can earn more playing time. The incumbent veteran is going to be playing more than a rookie, providing his play is still up to standard. If his play slips for an extended period then the young guys will be up. Mills needs to keep on pushing.