i think he should look for a new team to get some playing time!

I know he s aussie and our next big thing, but common what team wants a Shoot first PG who is barely 6 foot playing point and isnt the strongest defensively. The days of Iverson are gone. Thats why there is no playing time, quite simply put. Im not hating on Patty, infact I loved him at St Mary's, but its pretty obvious why he can't find minutes in the NBA.

mate he is on a team with branden roy, jarred baylees and andre miller thats why he cant get court time. he was averaging 6 assists in the d-league when he was there last so i think he has better then a past first point gaurd.

I'd play him. He's a gun. I think his defence is very solid. It's ok to be short as long as you are lightning quick. He is!

Considering the Blazers weren't giving Mills any court time, I don't think its a bad thing for him to do a decent stint in the D League.

I'd love to know what Blazers management are thinking though. I just cannot see how Travis Diener offers that much right now that the Blazers would think they were better off hiring him than giving Mills a go.

Basically, Diener will do a solid, conservative job of running their offence for the few minutes Miller is out each game. But he will be even more of a liability than Mills defensively (the guy is tiny) and the only thing he does on offence is pass the ball and knock down open jumpers.

If they gave him a chance, Patty would be doing all that and more in no time.

Davoo, the Blazers signed him when he was on a long term injury so they obviously see he has the goods to contribute. I'd say the fact that he's a rookie coming off a long term injury in a team with a bunch of guards is why his minutes are limited.

There's teams that could use him now, and I think he will eventually get regular minutes.

Anon, shall I spell it out for you? Mills can do what Diener can do, but he will also be able to do so much more in a very short time. Diener is already playing at the limits of his ability. It just seems short sighted to me to sign him when they could give Mills more minutes. Its not like they can go deep in the playoffs this year anyway. Whats a loss here and there to find out what you've got?

Beantown is totally on the money. Diener cannot do any more than what he can do right now - Mills can do everything PLUS has the potential to do more - it's called "upside". Diener does not have any upside and really is a very puzzling acquisition by the Blazers.

As thedoctor pointed out, there are many teams out there that are crying out for a decent point guard so I really do hope Patty gets traded for next season so he gets a decent shot at minutes - unless of course things change at the Blazers...

PS - the thread title is misleading as Mills has not been assigned to the Idaho Stampede in the D-League...

Time Will Tell. Teams are moving away from tiny point guards who like to shoot the ball. I Hope you guys prove me wrong but I don't see it, not in the near future anyway.

Aaron Brooks seems to be doing very well in Houston...

Davooo - you appear to be proved wrong! I forgot about Lawson and Collison.

I know he s aussie and our next big thing, but common what team wants a Shoot first PG who is barely 6 foot playing point and isnt the strongest defensively. The days of Iverson are gone. Thats why there is no playing time, quite simply put. Im not hating on Patty, infact I loved him at St Mary's, but its pretty obvious why he can't find minutes in the NBA

^^^^ Earl Boykins