Patty Mills set to join San Antonio Spurs as backup point guard

The San Antonio Spurs have completed what’s believed to be a two-year deal with Patty Mills, the former Portland Trail Blazer who played in China during the NBA lockout.

Mills will join the team as soon as his work visa issues are ironed out, possibly this week, according to the report.

“It shouldn’t be too much longer,” Mills’ agent, Aaron Goodwin, told the Express-News. “There is a deal in principle. He just has to get a visa.”

Mills is expected to back up Spurs point guard Tony Parker—T.J. Ford, who was coming off the bench to spell Parker, announced his retirement earlier this month. Parker, meanwhile, left Wednesday’s game against Minnesota with a tight hamstring before halftime, the Express-News notes.

Mills averaged 5.5 points and 1.7 assists over 12.2 minutes in 64 games last season in Portland, his second in the NBA. He also plays on the Australian national team, which is coached by Spurs assistant Brett Brown.