National Basketball Association

Spurs sign former Trail Blazers PG Mills

Published Mar. 27, 2012 4:04 p.m. ET

foxsports

Australian point guard Patrick Mills has signed with the San Antonio Spurs after last playing in China during the NBA lockout.

The Spurs announced that the former Portland Trail Blazers backup will be in uniform Tuesday night at Phoenix. Mills had been in talks with the Spurs since last week but first needed to resolve work visa issues.

He averaged 5.1 points and around 11 minutes a game in two seasons with Portland. He essentially fills the void left by point guard T.J. Ford, who abruptly retired this month following another scare to his surgically repaired spine.

The Spurs are second in the West and trying to upgrade their roster for a playoff push. They added Stephen Jackson at the trade deadline and signed forward Boris Diaw last week.