On Thursday, the Atlanta Hawks waived their veteran guard, Patty Mills, to make space for guard Trent Forrest after converting his two-way contract into a standard deal. This was the perfect opportunity for the Jimmy Butler-led Miami Heat, who are on a hunt to add more reinforcement to their backcourt. After trading for Terry Rozier and signing Delon Wright, the South Beach team has agreed to a deal with Patty Mills for the rest of the season, as per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Since entering the league as the 55th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, he has also been part of the Portland Trail Blazers, Brooklyn Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. The 15-year-veteran has seen limited action this season, averaging 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 10.6 minutes across 19 games. He is also shooting a career-low 37.3 percent from the field, but Miami will benefit from his 38.2 percent shooting efficiency from the deep.

How will Patty Mills impact the Miami Heat?

According to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel, Mills will take Dru Smith’s spot on the roster following Smith’s season-ending knee surgery. The inclusion of Mills should also provide some relief to the Heat, who have been without the services of their star guard Tyler Herro since Feb. 23 due to a knee injury. Adding to their injury woes, the South Florida team has also been without veteran guard Josh Richardson since Feb. 11 because of a shoulder injury. With the unpredictable nature of the injuries, Mills can provide some insurance against potential injuries on the team.

The 35-year-old also brings a wealth of championship experience with him. The Aussie was a part of the Spurs’ roster that lost to the Heat in the 2013 NBA Finals and then defeated the Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals.

Moreover, adding another ball-handler in Mills will significantly improve their offensive rating, which is currently good enough for 21st place in the league. Mills can also be relied on to impact the other side of the ball with his ability to make plays and disrupt the passing lanes. Moreover, with the unpredictable nature of the injuries, Mills can provide some insurance against potential injuries on the team.

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The Heat are currently sitting in the seventh spot in the East, just half a game clear of the coveted sixth seed. Mills will be an important piece in the Heat’s pursuit of their second straight NBA Finals appearance. Do you think the Heat can win their fourth chip this season? Let us know in the comments!

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