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2017 NBA free agency grades: Jeff Teague agrees to sign with Timberwolves

By Gerald Bourguet

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 18: Jeff Teague #44 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 18, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 18: Jeff Teague #44 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 18, 2016 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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After years of searching for a Ricky Rubio replacement, the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to sign their new point guard: Jeff Teague.

The Minnesota Timberwolves‘ busy offseason continued on Friday, with the team executing a major trade and agreeing to terms with their replacement at point guard hours before 2017 NBA free agency officially tipped off.

As first reported by The Vertical‘s Shams Charania, Tom Thibodeau has decided to replace former starting point guard Ricky Rubio with Jeff Teague as the team’s new floor general. Teague has agreed to a three-year, $57 million deal, with the third year being a player option.

The Salt Lake Tribune‘s Tony Jones initially reported that the two sides had a mutual interest.

Earlier on Friday, Minnesota dealt Rubio to the Utah Jazz for a 2018 first round draft pick (via the Oklahoma City Thunder, top-14 protected). The trade represented the culmination of a long-running effort to find an upgrade at the point and inject some shooting into a roster that ranked dead last in both three-point attempts and makes last season.

On the night of the 2017 NBA Draft, the Wolves dealt away Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and their No. 7 overall pick (Lauri Markkanen) to the Chicago Bulls for Thibs’ former protege, Jimmy Butler. Minnesota also got Chicago’s No. 16 pick in the exchange, selecting Justin Patton.

Butler is an established two-way star, but as a career 33.7 percent shooter from three-point range, his 36.7 percent efficiency from downtown last year is not the most trustworthy mark.

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    • With the team’s best three-point shooter in LaVine gone, Rubio’s career 31.5 percent mark from deep represented a major spacing concern, especially since Andrew Wiggins has yet to add that element to his game. Essentially swapping Rubio for a draft pick in the 20s and the ability to sign Teague, the Wolves somewhat mitigate those concerns.

    Though Teague (29) is a few years older than Rubio (26), he’s a more potent offensive player and far more effective shooter. Last season with the Indiana Pacers, he averaged 15.3 points, 7.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three-point range.

    However, this signing isn’t exactly the home run ball fans were hoping for, especially among those aware of Rubio’s underrated prowess as a passer and defender. Spacing may have been an issue, but a pass-first floor general like Rubio setting up offensive weapons like Butler, Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns was a prospect worth salivating over.

    Teague averaged a career-high 7.8 assists per game last season, so there might not be too steep of a drop-off in playmaking, but is his three-point shooting really that reliable? After all, Butler was the more efficient long range shooter last season, with Teague posted a similarly mediocre percentage from deep.

    It’s also worth noting that Minnesota didn’t really need help on the offensive end; it was the league’s 10th-best offense last season, putting up 108.1 points per 100 possessions.

    The Wolves’ defense, however, was the biggest reason behind their disappointing season, as they hemorrhaged 109.1 points per 100 possessions. Rubio was one of the team’s lone saving graces on that end of the floor, and Teague is a categorical downgrade there.

    Had the Wolves been able to sign someone like Kyle Lowry, Jrue Holiday or George Hill to come in and man the point, the Rubio trade would have been more justified. Teague certainly isn’t a bad point guard, and he shouldn’t take touches away from the team’s formidable options on offense, but he’s a bit of a ho-hum signing.

    That being said, Teague’s contract certainly isn’t as bad as it could’ve been. Shelling out $19 million a year for a good but not great point guard looks shaky on paper, but the Wolves had plenty of cap space to spare and that third-year player option could make this a very short deal if this union doesn’t work out as anticipated.

    That kind of contract is on par with market value and is also movable in the event Teague falls off a cliff or gets hurt and becomes more likely to opt in for that final year.

    All in all, Teague should help make an offense that was formidable last year even more high-powered in 2017-18, what with the team upgrading from LaVine to Butler at the 2 and Rubio to Teague at the 1.

    But even with Butler’s defensive skill-set in tow, Teague is a downgrade on the defensive end of the floor, and for the NBA’s 26th ranked defense, this signing leaves a bit to be desired.

    Next: 2017 NBA free agency tracker - Grades for every deal so far

    Grade: B-

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