The qualifying offer means Mills and Oden become restricted free agents, so the Trail Blazers can match any offer made for the two by other teams in the off-season.
Boomers guard Mills, a Canberra product, starred for Saint Mary's College in California before being selected 55th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.
He has appeared in 74 games in his two seasons in Portland and has averaged 5.1 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
But despite Mills' limited output he has become a fan favourite in the Rose City.
Oden's offer is a one-year, $US8.8 million deal for the seven-foot centre who was selected with the first overall pick of the 2007 draft, but whose career has been derailed by injuries.
Knee surgeries shelved Oden for his entire rookie season and all of last season.
The 23-year-old has managed to play a total of just 82 games in four years with career averages of 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.
"We've stood behind Greg Oden every day since he became a Trail Blazer and that continues with today's announcement," Portland president Larry Miller said on the team's website.
"Despite the setbacks he's experienced, he continues to be resilient in working tirelessly on his rehabilitation. We're all very encouraged with not only his progress, but with his commitment and determination to return to the basketball court."
Portland also exercised its team options on back-up forward Luke Babbitt and guard Elliot Williams.
- ABC/Reuters
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, united-states
No comments:
Post a Comment