Milwaukee Bucks Chasing Jeff Teague Again?
By Adam McGee
Should The Bucks Even Try To Chase Teague?
The best way to sum this up is by getting you to cast your mind back to strange, twisted and surreal time from earlier in this season. Remember when the Bucks started O.J. Mayo at point guard?
Many Bucks fans enthused that that experiment was actually a great idea, as Mayo could offer a calming influence on the ball, wouldn’t get in the way of the team’s supposed main offensive options, would look to make smart decisions on both ends and would offer enough of a shooting threat for opposing defenders to be forced into respecting him.
Jeff Teague fits that prototype and list of criteria perfectly, except here’s the best part: he’s got real point guard instincts, real talent, is a former All-Star, and has 18 months remaining on a bargain contract.
If the Hawks are really looking to move Teague, Milwaukee needs to try and find a way to get him.
Let’s be clear on this, the Bucks shouldn’t move any major core pieces, but they need to have the nerve to try, and instigate, and manufacture a deal that could somehow result in Teague landing in Milwaukee.
It would put the Bucks in a completely different position for next season, where they would be allowed a season long trial run of their young core being partnered by the expiring trio of Jeff Teague, Greg Monroe and head coach Jason Kidd.
If the Bucks can find a smart way to make a deal work, there’s close to no risk involved.
In terms of character, Teague can be vocal when he needs to be, but has an easy going demeanor. He’s not going to mouth off to the point of stifling his young teammates when it comes to their own confidence or expression on the court.
All the 27-year-old is interested in is winning, and feeling valued by an organization and his teammates.
Back in that summer of 2013, Teague was ready to embrace the challenge in Milwaukee, having felt the love.
"It was a perfect situation for me, being familiar with the coaching staff and talking to them on the phone. They embraced me and they wanted me. They told me that. That is something I never really heard (in Atlanta). Once somebody said they actually wanted me to be a part of their future I’m all for it."
The coaching staff may have changed since then, but much of the rest of that sentiment could still be relevant in any Teague discussion. Teague wanted to be a part of the future when it was grim back then, where now he could be a part of a much brighter future in Milwaukee.
Teague will almost certainly have no say on where he ends up, but the Bucks would have to note that if it did end up being Milwaukee, he’d likely be happy to take on the challenge.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks: No Need To Trade Anybody This Season
Three years later, could Jeff Teague end up a Buck? Milwaukee fans should start hoping for a fairytale ending.