With the 2016 NBA trade deadline approaching, here are 10 teams that should trade for Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague.
Coming off a 60-win season and an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, the Atlanta Hawks are facing the harsh reality that, as currently constructed, this team is no longer a true title contender.
In a league dominated by the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers — widely viewed as the third or even fourth best team in the NBA that will likely bow out in the Finals to whatever monster emerges from the West — are still perceived to be head and shoulders above teams like the Hawks in the East.
That’s a problem for Atlanta, a team that is far too good to miss the postseason, but also has no hope of knocking off Cleveland in a seven-game series. The departure of DeMarre Carroll was a significant blow, but seasons of regression for Kyle Korver and Jeff Teague have hurt as well. The Hawks are currently closer to ninth in the East (3.5 games) than they are to the Toronto Raptors in second place (5.0 games).
With Al Horford heading for unrestricted free agency this summer and the front office reportedly skittish about the idea of offering him a max deal in the five-year, $144.5 million range, the Hawks may be considering retooling the team — starting with Teague.
Hawks had been soliciting offers for Teague or Dennis Schroder, per rival execs. Though recently they have focused more on Teague.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 27, 2016
This season, Teague’s numbers are down from the 15.9 points and 7.0 assists per game on 46.0 percent shooting he averaged last year to 15.1 points and 5.5 assists per game on 43.2 percent shooting this year. With backup point guard Dennis Schroder averaging 10.7 points and 4.5 assists in 20.7 minutes per game, it’s only a matter of time before the 22-year-old overtakes Teague for the starting job.
However, Teague is only 27 years old himself, and he’s on a perfectly manageable $8 million annual salary for the next season and a half. There are a ton of teams that would be interested in his services if Atlanta makes him available, especially since he’s shooting a career high 40.8 percent from three-point range this year.
With the Hawks contemplating Jeff Teague trades without completely committing to blowing the roster up, here’s a look at 10 NBA teams that should pick up the phone with an offer.
Next: No. 10