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Patty Mills Traded To Clippers. Re-Unites With Kawhi Leonard

Australian basketball legend Patty Mills is on the move once again, landing with the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a trade with the Utah Jazz. The deal, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, sees Mills and center Drew Eubanks heading to the Clippers in exchange for P.J. Tucker, Mo Bamba, a future second-round pick, and cash considerations.

For Mills, this marks his fourth trade since July 2023, continuing a whirlwind stretch for the 16-year NBA veteran. The 36-year-old guard has bounced around the league in recent seasons, moving from the Brooklyn Nets to the Atlanta Hawks, then to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, and now the Clippers—all without playing significant minutes for any of those teams.

While Mills’ role in Los Angeles remains unclear, the trade reunites him with Kawhi Leonard, his former San Antonio Spurs teammate from their 2014 NBA Championship run.

The Clippers officially welcomed their new additions via social media, signaling their excitement about the deal.

 

Mills has played sparingly this season for the Western Conference-worst Jazz, averaging 4.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17 games. His expiring contract made him an easy trade piece for Utah, allowing them to acquire assets while making room for younger players.

The Clippers, currently 28-20 and exceeding expectations in a competitive Western Conference, made this move to bolster their frontcourt depth ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. Drew Eubanks, the central piece of the deal, will provide size and defensive versatility behind Ivica Zubac and Daniel Theis.

Meanwhile, P.J. Tucker—who has not played for the Clippers this season—has long been a trade candidate. The 39-year-old veteran was part of the James Harden trade from Philadelphia but was never in the Clippers’ rotation. Mo Bamba, who averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 28 games this season, also moves to Utah, where he could see more playing time.

From a financial perspective, the deal helps get the Clippers under the luxury tax threshold, providing flexibility for further roster moves.

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