3 players unlikely to return with the San Antonio Spurs for the 2021-22 NBA season

#2 Patty Mills

San Antonio Spurs backup guard Patty Mills

Patty Mills is ingrained in the San Antonio Spurs culture, and fans will have a tough time saying goodbye to him after he spent 10 years with the franchise.

Throughout that time, he has performed admirably as Popovich's backup point guard. He is extremely reliable on the ball, turning it over only 1.7 times every 36 minutes.

Mills began the season in red-hot form and was averaging 14 points per game over the first 20 fixtures. However, he leveled out to average 10.8 points a night off the bench. He is also a fairly reliable shooter from downtown, connecting with 37% of attempts during the 2020-21 campaign.

At 32 and with the experience he has had with the San Antonio Spurs as a championship winner, Mills will be highly sought-after as an unrestricted free agent. What is not guaranteed is whether the Spurs will want him back, as that will ultimately decide his future.

The franchise appreciates loyalty and likes to make minimal changes to the roster, even if they are looking to rebuild. Mills is unlikely to leave, but he will garner strong interest across the NBA as a cheap veteran.

#1 DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan's time with the San Antonio Spurs hasn't quite worked out

DeMar DeRozan is the San Antonio Spurs player who is most likely to leave in the offseason.

Versatile and consistent, DeRozan will be one of the most sought-after free agents on the market this summer, and it is unlikely that he will want to sign away more of his prime years with the Spurs.

DeMar DeRozan punches it home for the @spurs in San Antonio! 💪 pic.twitter.com/bzhH83RBTV

— NBA (@NBA) March 28, 2021

For the eighth season in a row, DeRozan averaged over 20 points and dished out a career-high 6.9 assists per game this year. There will definitely be plenty of offers on the table for him in the offseason.

DeRozan is clinical when on the floor, shooting at close to 50% from the field and 88% from the line. He knows his role in the mid-range and has mastered it to a tee. His offensive efficiency is at an elite level, and he has the veteran experience to help a team that is looking to add a second scorer behind their leader.

---