LAS VEGAS -- The Portland Trail Blazers announced Friday that second-round pick Patty Mills, a gifted guard from St. Mary's, fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a Thursday night summer league practice. It's just the latest blow to the talented guard, who was once tabbed a lottery pick just a few months ago. Mills, who might be fighting for a roster spot or perhaps headed to the NBDL, will be examined again later today, but the injury likely means that he'll be sidelined for the entire NBA Summer League, losing the chance to make an impression.
Mills excelled for Australia in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and was once considered a likely first-round pick, but he dropped to 55th overall in last month's draft. He could eventually be a gem but it is uncertain how long he will miss.
"You never want to see a player get injured, but it is especially heart wrenching to see a young man go down on his first day of camp," General Manager Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. "We'll do everything we can to help Patty get back on track to realize his NBA future."
Portland makes its Las Vegas debut on July 13 against the Toronto Raptors and players such as Jerryd Bayless, Pooh Jeter and former Michigan State standout Drew Neitzel will assume the point guard duties.
Mills led St. Mary's to the NCAA tournament as a freshman, but the Gaels fell short of reaching the tourney last season when Mills missed a month with a broken right hand. Perhaps had Mills returned to St. Mary's for his junior season, he could have catapulted his draft stock and played his way into the lottery. But he was the victim of uneven workouts and a point-guard deep draft.
