Could Aussie stars be seeking new homes?

Despite playing in just five games for the Atlanta Hawks this season, Australian superstar Patty Mills is "extremely unlikely" to join the NBL next season, according to ESPN's Olgun Uluc.

The 35-year-old Mills has struggled to break into the Atlanta's rotation this season after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets via Houston and Oklahoma City this past off-season, and his limited opportunity has led to some talk he could head to the NBL to further future NBA opportunities, much like Matthew Dellavedova in NBL22, prior to a stint with the Sacramento Kings.

Mills played nine games for the Melbourne Tigers during the 2011 NBA lockout, but Uluc has revealed a return to the NBL is not on Mills' radar.

“I would put it at extremely unlikely. Every time I ask anyone around Patty Mills, it is a pretty straight, flat-out no,” Uluc said on The Marketplace.

“He has to figure out what is next for him, but I wouldn’t even consider it at this point. I don’t think it is something that is seriously legitimately on the table.”

Mills is averaging 2.4 points for the Hawks this season, after making 40 appearances for the Nets last season.

2018 NBL champion Peter Hooley theorised the success of Mills' fellow Boomers veteran Joe Ingles at the Orlando Magic could lead Mills to believe he can still find a role in the current NBA landscape.

Uluc also reported 2023 NBL MVP Xavier Cooks is set to receive big offers in Asia, and if he does return to Australia, it will likely be with the Sydney Kings.

Cooks was waived by the Washington Wizards ahead of the NBA season and is currently playing for Japanese side Chiba Jets.

“He is going to get significant offers from around Asia come this off-season ... it’ll be from China, it’ll be from Japan, so he will look at those offers and see what he likes,” Uluc said.

“It doesn’t matter if every other team in the competition wants Xavier Cooks, because the right of first refusal for Xavier Cooks is with the Sydney Kings. If Xavier Cooks says I want to be in the NBL, the Sydney Kings will do whatever they can to bring him in.”

NBL and NBA champion Jack White is also being linked with a return to the NBL.

The former Melbourne United forward was signed with last season's NBA champion Denver Nuggets on a two-way contract. He was then signed and waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to being selected with the first pick of the NBA G-League draft.

White is currently representing the South Bay Lakers and is averaging 11 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He made 17 appearances for the Nuggets last season.

“Jack White feels as though he is right on the cusp of being an NBA player. He feels that way and quite rightly as well. That is priority number one, two and three for him,” Uluc said.

“It would surprise me if he shows any serious consideration in the NBL this upcoming off-season.”