If Andrew Bogut is going to slip a second NBA title ring on his oversized hand it appears his Golden State Warriors will have to go through Patty Mills’ beefed up San Antonio Spurs.
Bookmakers have elevated Spurs as favourites to knock off the reigning NBA champions and represent the Western Conference in the 2015/16 NBA Finals.
The bookies expect Cleveland Cavaliers to dominate the Eastern Conference, setting up a potential battle of the Australian back-up point guards between Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.
Spurs’ odds to win the title improved from 10/1 to 4/1 on the weekend when prized free agent and All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge announced he would join San Antonio.
“I’m happy to say I’m going home to Texas,” the Dallas-born Aldridge announced on Twitter.
Aldridge is expected to sign a four-year, $US80 million ($A107 million) contract.
A week ago it was believed Mills could become a Spurs’ salary cap casualty as the team competed with the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat and Aldridge’s former club, the Portland Trail Blazers, to sign the 211-cm big man.
The theory was Spurs’ players would have to be shed if the team wanted enough money to pay Aldridge.
Spurs had just retained NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard and shooting guard Danny Green for $US90 million and $US45 million multi-year deals respectively and still had to find money for veteran leader Tim Duncan.
Mills, with $US7 million and two years remaining on his contract, seemed expendable.
But Spurs’ roster was thinned when another Aussie, Aron Baynes, was picked up by Detroit Pistons in a three-year, $US20 million deal, Sacramento Kings signed Italian shooting guard/forward Marco Belinelli and Brazilian big man Tiago Splitter went to Atlanta Hawks.
Mills’ standing with Spurs’ management was also solidified when it was revealed he was the team’s secret weapon in recruiting Aldridge.
Mills is the ultimate team man who was drafted by the Trail Blazers in 2009, was beloved in Portland and good mates with Aldridge.
Aldridge set up camp in Los Angeles last week and in what became an $US80 million-plus game of speed dating, had meetings with his short-list of potential teams.
The once great, but today tragic-looking Lakers blew it when they focused their chat on marketing opportunities for Aldridge, not how they’d win on the court.
The also-dismal Knicks were quickly vetoed by Aldridge.
The Suns surprised Aldridge with their presentation and became a contender.
Joining Spurs’ entourage in Los Angeles was head coach Gregg Popovich, Duncan, six-time All-Star point guard Tony Parker and old Trail Blazer mate, Mills.
It would seem unlikely that Spurs, the five-time NBA champions built on team loyalty, would use Mills to attract Aldridge and then dump the Aussie in a trade.
Question marks do hang over Dellavedova. It’s unclear if Cavaliers will re-sign their new blue-collar hero, with reports that talks involving a $US3 to $US5 million three-year deal have stalled.
Cavaliers are focused on appeasing free agent LeBron James, who is waiting for the team to re-sign power forward Tristan Thompson.
Another Australian, Joe Ingles, is expected to return to the Utah Jazz while some teams have shown interest in countryman Aussie Dante Exum, but the Jazz aren’t interested in trade offers.
Australia was treated to Bogut’s Warriors going against Dellavedova’s Cavaliers in last month’s NBA Finals.
With the bookies naming Cavaliers, Spurs and Warriors three of the top four teams most likely to win the NBA title, 2015/16 could exceed last season’s phenomenal year for Australian basketball.
Trey
Guest
I love what my Spurs have done, here is my two cents worth on the contenders... Warriors - great shooters, they have a big in the middle but no bench still the team to beat Cavaliers - have the self proclaimed "king", good big and PG but the rest mostly along for the ride, if it's just LBJ then no worries Rockets - Howard, Harden and that's about it Mavericks - Picked up Jordan which is huge for their defense, Dirk is at the end but still playing good, and they have good role players Clippers - lost Jordan, so back to Griffin and CP3, Crawford may go also. Portland - the band broke up so rebuild time, they should have dumped Lillard instead of paying him 120 million and just start over. Lakers - They are a joke Thunder - Durant is back but the thunder have a new coach so that's like breaking in a new gun going to take a couple of rounds. Suns - Hot Purgatory Kings - Taking in the scraps and leftovers like usual Pelicans - Kinda proud of them, not there yet but a couple of right moves away Nuggets - Truthfully forgot about them Timberwolves - Well they have KG every time I say that I laugh. The Eastern Conference as a whole except for the Bulls, Cavs and Hawks are embarrassing. The only thing worth anything in Miami is Pat Riley and that's pushing it. I know they have Wade and Bosh but that's like two guys racing Ford Pinto's, just really hard to watch without laughing. The Knicks are like the Heat, another has-been running a team and they talk about him more than the players, sad. Philly, Boston, Detroit, Charlotte and Toronto should be in the D league more than the NBA. Brooklyn and Washington I can see giving some sort of adversity to teams but not enough to say they are in contention to the Cavs. I don't know about Indiana since they lost West and from rumors could be more I hope not. Just another guys opinion.
Machooka
Roar Guru
@ Doug Graves Excellent effort... and fascinating reading. I, too, was only discussing what permeations the next season of NBA might throw-up regards to each conference, with a sad Laker's fan of some time, on Sunday. Both of us were convinced that the Bulls would make a charge this next season, and challenge the Cavs. So I think you've got that right. As to rest of the East... we both see that as a bun fight, and little consequence as we are both Westies. And as most who have an eye what is good, great, and legendary... they know the West has the best. Hence, rightly, this has far more interest than what's going on over there... in the East :) Happy to see some love for my Mavs... and that your Spurs (and my wife's Spurs... she just loves Timmy) will go to 7 in the Semis. I hope you're right there also, as these are always... ALWAYS... a hard fought local derby. Love ya work !
astro
Guest
Great post and bravo for putting up Ws and Ls...but Celtics at 4? Above Miami with a fit Bosh and Dragic at point? And the Bucks with Monroe and Parker back? Actually think the Celtics will miss the playoffs this year. Dare I say it, the Knicks will improve (they couldn't get worse), but I like Afflalo and Lopez for them, and think Quinn will be good. Melo will be back also, so can see them sneaking in at 8. And the Pacers could be good with Paul George back and Monta on board. They'll be quick and have plenty of scoring punch, although am sure they'll want to find some help for the front court.
pete bloor
Guest
The Hawks would be the 3 seed they changed the seeding a while back so that the top non division winner gets seeded on record so the Cavs would be the #2 seed.
AussieBokkie
Guest
It's great to see all this Australian talent on display in the NBA of late. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Robert
Guest
You all better pay attention to the Thunder...Durant WILL be back and they got rid of their biggest liability (Scott Brooks). If everyone's healthy they will win the Western Conference.
Doug Graves
Guest
Spurs fan since the David Robinson days but Bulls also have a place in my memories
greg taz
Guest
Bulls fan?
Doug Graves
Guest
Good to see the Spurs are back where we belong as favorites, we had to do something big after that humiliating exit at the hands of the (now) hapless Clippers. My predictions for the West: 1) Spurs: 65-17 2) GSW: 60-22 3) Houston: 57-25 4) OKC: 55-27 5) Dallas: 55-27 6) Memphis: 54-28 7) NOP: 51-31 8) Suns: 49-33 Clippers are gone without Jordan anchoring the defense and RipCity will RIP as their hopes have been, well, ripped apart by Aldridge. 1st Round: Spurs over Suns in 5. GSW over NOP in 6. Houston over Memphis in 7. Dallas over OKC in 6. Conf Semis: Spurs over Dallas in 7. GSW over Rockets in 7. Conf Finals: Spurs over GSW in 7. And East: 1) Bulls: 60-22 2) Hawks*: 54-28 3) Cavs: 58-24 4) Celtics: 47-35 5) Heat: 46-36 6) Wizards: 45-37 7) Bucks: 44-38 8) Toronto: 43-39 *Hawks win their division so get 2nd seed over Cavs. 1st Round: Bulls over Toronto in 5. Bucks over Hawks in 7. Cavs over Wizards in 5. Celtics over Heat in 7. Conf Semis: Bulls over Celtics in 4. Cavs over Bucks in 6. Conf Finals: Bulls over Cavs in 7. NBA Finals: Spurs over Bulls in 6.
Swampy
Guest
Out of interest, who were favourites to play in the Finals at the start of last season? In fact, who were the favourites to match up in the Conference Finals? OKC have been quiet in the market place thus far - with a full roster back on board they would only need one or two additions to their second unit to be seriously good. It's like we forgot about them since the playoffs started. 2015-16 might be their last chance for a Title as well before KD or Russ bolts for LA.