The first NBA trade of the season is made with the Atlanta Hawks welcoming back an old face in Jeff Teague. The 31-year-old veteran guard suited up for the Hawks from 2009-16. From there, he had stops with the Indiana Pacers and the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Trae Young undoubtedly the new face of the team, Teague is likely to play alongside or behind the 21-year-old guard.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hawks sent off Allen Crabbe to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Teague and Treveon Graham. For some, the move may not make sense considering Atlanta is out of the running for an NBA playoff spot. But looking at it more closely, Teague and Graham could be part of the Hawks' rebuilding efforts.
Atlanta has traded guard Allen Crabbe to Minnesota for PG Jeff Teague and Treveon Graham, league sources tell ESPN. Hawks get a backup for Trae Young. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 16, 2020
Teague has been putting up practically the same career numbers. In 34 games, he has averaged 13.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. But the intent is obviously to get a quality backup guard to Young. The last time the 6-foot-3 guard was around, he was backed up by Dennis Schroder. His return accounts for a solid guard rotation for head coach Lloyd Pierce.
As for Graham, the Hawks get a young wingman who has potential. This season, he has averaged only 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds. However, he is a whole lot cheaper compared to Crabbe, who simply did not hit it well with the Hawks. However, Graham needs to prove that he can step up and fit in Pierce's system. Failure to do so could see him joining NBA free agents this summer.
With Teague back, the future of Brandon Goodwin hangs in the balance. Though he had an impressive G-League stint, he failed to hit his stride in the NBA. Unless he shows more consistency in his game, his future is murky. There is the possibility he could be sent back to the G-League, Fansided reported.
It will also be interesting how the Hawks will handle Teague after this season. The one-time NBA All-Star is in the last year of his three-year deal signed back in 2018. While he has managed to maintain his career averages, the money on the table could be an issue this summer.
When his name hit the NBA trade rumor mill, several teams were mentioned as plausible destinations. Among the teams who could use a veteran point guard like him include the New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, and the Orlando Magic. It won't come as a surprise if these same teams and more check out Teague's status in the offseason.
