The 2015-16 NBA trade deadline is drawing closer, which means we can expect to hear a lot more about guys potentially being on the move. One big name that has popped up recently in NBA trade rumors is Atlanta Hawks star point guard, Jeff Teague. Whether it’s been inconsistency, rest or injury, Teague has seen his minutes and production drop this season and that reportedly has him on the trading block.
The Hawks aren’t stopping at Teague, either, as they don’t appear to be content with how their point guard situation has unfolded and could also be looking to deal Dennis Schroder. It could be an “either/or” situation, but the odd man out due to age and his decline for the moment seems to be Teague. While Teague hasn’t exactly worked out as expected this year, he has been good for quite a while and still looked the part of an NBA starting point guard earlier this season. Numerous teams could use an upgrade at the position and could come calling for Teague’s services. Let’s take a look at the most likely landing spots if Teague in fact gets dealt:
Milwaukee Bucks
Jason Kidd has run through some point guards in Milwaukee and although Michael Carter-Williams has been better lately, it’s rather likely he’s still not done moving pieces around. MCW can pass and rebound, but he’s not the best defender and he’s a flat out abysmal shooter. Teague would be a much more balanced option and it’s plausible to imagine a player for player swap.
Utah Jazz
Utah continues to roll with Trey Burke off the bench as a pure scorer, which tells us they don’t really envision him as a franchise point guard. The drafting of Dante Exum told us that last year, but he’s since torn his ACL. If the Jazz want to make a playoff push this year, they’d be trying to do it with Raul Neto starting and Burke as a pure scorer off the bench. Giving up on Burke may be in order and instead they could roll with Teague. Teague would give them a balanced starter that can play both ways and also would allow Exum the time he needs to come back at the right pace next season.
New York Knicks
Jerian Grant could still be the future but the one key thing the Knicks have lacked all year is a suitable, top shelf point guard who can shoot, pass and defend. Grant has shown flashes but overall has been too inconsistent and the aging Jose Calderon can’t defend or create much. Calderon can stroke it from deep, but he’s got to be on his way out. Unless the Knicks are sold on Grant taking over the team soon or have their eyes on another trade candidate, perhaps they should consider luring Jeff Teague to the Big Apple.
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn let Deron Williams walk for nothing this past summer and then settled on a very average Jarrett Jack at the point. Jack was fine enough as the starter, but he recently tore his ACL and isn’t a lock to be ready for the start of next season. At the moment Donald Sloan and Shane Larkin are all the Nets have and it’s pretty likely that’s all they want as they try to lose games en route to a high draft pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. If they want to try to win this year, though, they probably will want to swing a trade for a better point guard. Teague would give them the big name they lack and could help make their entire roster a little more cohesive.
Houston Rockets
Houston is the only other team in the league that isn’t sure what they want to do at the point and trading for what figures to be an upgrade could be an option. They have two different yet in their own way suitable options in Ty Lawson and Patrick Beverley. Lawson can’t defend and that’s largely all Bev can do. Teague can both score and defend and if Houston sees it right, he could be the answer to their on the surface issues. They’re the least likely of the five, but they deserve mentioning.
Think Teague gets traded to one of these five teams or stays put? Tell us in the comments below!
