Jeff Teague takes over as the Indiana Pacers starting point guard.
With little warning (unless you count a trade deadline rumor months ago), George Hill was traded for Jeff Teague and a certain section of Indiana Pacers fans finally got the ‘pure’ point guard they had been pining for.
So what should we know about Teague, a beloved former Atlanta Hawk?
After playing his college ball at Wake Forest, Teague entered the NBA as the 19th overall pick in 2009. He’s averaged 12.2 points and 5.5 assists a game in his career and made the All-Star Game during the 2014-15 season.
The Pacers may have traded the Hometown Hero to acquire him, but Teague was also born in Indianapolis. The Indy Star’s Dana Hunsinger Benbow had a wonderful write up on his history in Indiana, and it would be a disservice to try to replicate that here.
But what fans are really worried about is what Teague can do on the court.
We asked Brad Washington, editor of Soaring Down South and Kacy Sager (A Teague-ologist?Look, she knows basketball regardless of her title) to answer a few questions about the point guard, the trade, and how it will help or hurt the Indiana Pacers.
Next: Who Won the Trade?
On paper who won the trade? And are you happy with it for the Hawks?
Kacy Sager: Looking at all the parts of this trade after the draft, going only by which team is receiving the most immediate help, I’d have to say Utah won. Who knows who they would have taken with the #12 pick, but Jazz fans have had their eye on George Hill for a while now and he seems like a good fit for their team. Between Indiana and Atlanta, the former got a 2015 All-Star point guard in Teague, who averages more points and assists per game than Hill and is a better defender and two years younger.
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The Hawks ended up with a player many didn’t expect to be taken until much later in the draft, so the Pacers have the edge here. It would have been nice to see Atlanta get more out of Teague than Taurean Prince, but this was always going to end up being Dennis Schroder’s team. Moving on from the Teague era (and his expiring contract), the Hawks did a good job of stocking up on wings in the draft, the weakest point on our roster after losing DeMarre Carroll last offseason.
Brad Washington: Short term it maybe the Pacers, but the long run maybe the Hawks. The Hawks were able to get two potential 3-and-D players who have the talent to be quality, if not better NBA players in this league. Teague has been the point guard for the Atlanta Hawks the last five seasons. The last thing the Hawks need is another Mike Conley; good point guard who will get us to the playoffs and that’s it. It was time to see if Dennis Schroder can carry the Hawks to the future.
So yes, I’m happy mainly because it’s time to see Schroder lead the team.
Next: Is Jeff Teague a 'Pure Point Guard'?
Some Indiana Pacers fans complained that George Hill wasn’t a ‘pure’ point guard. Is Jeff Teague a ‘pure’ point guard?
Sager: Jeff Teague’s father is a huge Spurs fan and coached his son to play a very unselfish style of basketball. At various points in his career under various coaches, Teague has played as a shoot-first point guard out of necessity, but he has looked far more comfortable under Coach Bud in the role of a pure point guard. When healthy, he’s a very reliable defender at his position, and he’s adept at running an offense and seeking out the open shot. He’s a much more well-rounded player than both Hill and Monta Ellis, and Pacers fans (along with Paul George) should be thrilled with the upgrade.
Washington: Jeff Teague is probably in the same class as George Hill, in which they probably are in the same class also with Mike Conley Jr: good floor generals that do just enough to score buckets and they are good at officiating the office. In Teague, they will get an experienced point guard who has plenty of playoff experience, but they aren’t getting too much of an upgrade.
Next: The Pros and Cons of Jeff Teague
What’s are the biggest pros and cons Jeff Teague will bring to the Indiana Pacers?
Sager: Teague will feel right at home playing for an old-school coach like McMillan. Also, he’s literally right at home in Indiana. It’s an ideal situation for him and Pacers fans should expect a textbook Teague season. He’s a selfless player who won’t try to take any shots away from Paul George. There have been moments over the past couple of seasons where Teague actually told Coach Bud to leave Schroder in the game instead of subbing him back in. He’ll make his teammates better and he’ll never try to play hero-ball.
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But this was also one of his biggest cons on the Hawks. Atlanta struggled to ever take over the pace of a game this past season in the same way they had the year before, and the Hawks would have benefitted from the occasional Teague Takeover. He had several glaringly bad meltdowns on the final possessions of key games that seemed uncharacteristic for a player with typically impressive court awareness, and I wouldn’t expect him to suddenly become “clutch” at this point in his career. Ultimately, the biggest pro and the biggest con are the same: You know exactly what you can expect from Teague.
Additionally, this past season was the first in his career in which his PER didn’t improve, and he spoke out on social media about playing most of the last season injured. This would explain the dip in his production (along with the overall inferior play of his teammates in comparison to the 2014-2015 season), and hopefully, a little offseason rest will be enough for him to start next season healthy.
Another con: His expiring contract. But it feels like the Hawks’ front office worked with Teague to send him somewhere he wanted to be, and it’s easy to imagine him signing on with the Pacers after this year.
Washington: Pros: his experience and leadership. He’s a tad bit more of a scorer than Hill is, but nonetheless, he still brings a new dimension.
Cons: Although a better overall scorer, not really the biggest upgrade. And he’s not too much of a consistent shooter. But again, who knows what will happen when he plays for Indiana.
Next: What Do You Like Best About Jeff Teague
Outside of the numbers, stats, etc, what did you like best about Jeff Teague?
Sager: The best thing I can say about Teague is that he was never the problem. He had off-nights, sure, but even during sub-.500 seasons, it never felt like the Hawks needed a new point guard to take the next step. He’s solid. He has both the ability to make his teammates look better and to look better himself when his teammates improve.
Washington: I respected his ability to be a floor general and to stay composed. He has an old school throwback feel to his game and he always came on the court ready to work.
Next: Did the Indiana Pacers Get Better?
In your opinion, did the Indiana Pacers get better by trading for Jeff Teague?
Sager: Absolutely. My biggest concern with the Pacers this past season was their lack of identity outside of Paul George (my personal vote for 2016 MVP). With Teague and George playing together, that team becomes a pick-and-roll powerhouse. You guys are set at the point guard position now, and Indiana’s front office can now look ahead and figure out the next move.
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Washington: Slightly, but it all depends on how he’s utilized as the point guard. If he’s just the standard 15/6 guy, then they will get better but not by much. But if he’s allowed to be a scorer, then the Pacers could be a team to be reckoned with.