Bogut may join Mills in the NBL

NBA star Andrew Bogut could join Patty Mills in the National Basketball League this season.

The Melbourne Tigers announced the signing of the 23-year old Mills yesterday with the Portland Trail Blazers' guard agreeing to play for the club until the NBA lockout ends.

Mills is out of contract with the Blazers, but received an offer from the club before the lockout fell.

In interviews with selected journalists yesterday, Bogut, a Milwaukee Bucks centre, said he could also join Mills in the NBL, but he won't start courting teams until October 1 when he will re-assess the lockout situation.

The provision is that any NBL club would have to provide insurance for Bogut's $60 million NBA contract.

''If the lockout is where it is now, Europe and the NBL are viable options for me,'' he said. ''Australia is very appealing because I get more time with my family. But it's a big step up with the insurance.

''I won't go asking an NBL club for big money, the main thing is the insurance.''

Bogut would certainly be off limits to the Tigers after Mills's signing so Bogut would have to look interstate, which he would happily do.

''Patty has stolen my spot,'' he joked.

Bogut also urged fans to sell out Tigers games around the country.

''He is an NBA quality talent. Players of his standard are what the fans have been begging for - now they have it,'' he said.