Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague
PG, 6’2, 186lbs, 29 years old, 8 years of experience

Played 82, started 82, played 32.4 minutes per, and recorded 15.3 points and 7.8 assists per as well. Teague shot at a career high efficiency (.574%%) to go with that career high in assists, and was a pleasant shot-in-the-arm for a stagnant offence with his speed, driving and kicking. Still a poor defender, though, and with that in mind, although there is no other option on the team currently, Teague’s price in free agency must be capped should any other point guard-less team out there seek to overpay him.

Player Plan: Entering unrestricted free agency, fresh off of an $8.8 million contract. Not the best point guard on the market, and is with his hometown team in Indiana, but this is also his best chance of a mammoth pay day, so he’ll have to explore that. Merits an $80 million deal, but might get a $100 million one. If he does, let him walk, and commence the long-postponed rebuild.

[...] In comparison, 36 such players have signed within those parameters in 2013. And in contrast to 2008, those names are often established quality role players who aren't quite stars and who rightly aren't being paid like it. At the top end, players like Monta Ellis, Jose Calderon, Brandon Jennings, Jarrett Jack, Jeff Teague and Carl Landry are all getting acceptable prices, perhaps $2 million annually less than they would have done five years ago. At the bottom end, established role players like Marreese Speights, Tony Allen and Chris Kaman are getting paid adequately for their useful role player production. And unlike in 2008, those deals like Kaman's are not too long. See also Greg Stiemsma, Tyler Hansbrough, Mike Dunleavy Jr, Dorell Wright and Randy Foye, none more than three years in length, some as short as one.

Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague's rookie year was not particularly good. There was the occasional spark on the fire, but he never threw a log on it. Teague showed he did not have an outside jumpshot, was often overly tentative offensively, passing up good shots and taking bad ones. On the plus side, Teague was OK defensively and didn't turn it over a lot, and if you want to be really positive, then the firing of Mike Woodson might prove very important to Teague's development. With a playbook that expands beyond watching someone else isolate and waiting for a kickout, Teague might start to show more.