76ers Rival Secures More Guard Depth With Latest Free Agent Signing

Since Joel Embiid went down with injury, the Philadelphia 76ers have saw themselves slightly dip in the standings. After sitting in third place for most of the season, they are now in fifth.

Aside from being without Embiid, the teams around them getting better has been a major factor as well. One of the teams just behind them in the standings just landed more upgrades after inking a former champion to a free-agent contract.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that veteran point guard Patty Mills has signed a deal with the Miami Heat. He was previously with the Atlanta Hawks, but was waived at the end of February. In the 19 games he appeared in this season, Mills averaged 2.7 PPG while shooting 38.2% from beyond the arc.

At 35, Mills has played 95 career playoff games with the Blazers, Spurs and Nets. He played 19 games with the Hawks this season and now joins the Heat where he'll be eligible for the postseason roster. https://t.co/vlkwBgTrnX
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 5, 2024

As things currently sit, the Heat are just one game behind the Sixers in the standings. They've been one of the hotter teams in the league as of late, winning six of their last seven games.

Over the past few months, Miami has made multiple upgrades to their backcourt. First, they acquired Terry Rozier in exchange for Kyle Lowry. They've made multiple signings in the buyout market as well, bringing in Delon Wright and Mills.

At age 35, Mills can still be a productive vet in the right role. He'll bring championship experience, but more importantly, outside shooting. Having multiple floor spacers is crucial for a team like the Heat, who are centered around two non-shooters.

In these final weeks of the regular season, the Sixers and Heat are scheduled to face off twice. The first meeting will be on March 18th, followed by another matchup on April 4th.