Milwaukee Bucks: 3 questions following the Jeff Teague signing

The Milwaukee Bucks announced Thursday that they have officially signed veteran point guard Jeff Teague to a deal for the remainder of the season.

The front office has not been shy about bringing new talent into the fold for the Bucks this season, and Teague is the latest edition to their ongoing roster revamping. The veteran comes aboard after being waived by the Orlando Magic shortly after they acquired him from the Boston Celtics during last week’s trade deadline.

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On paper, this an impactful signing for the Bucks from the jump. The veteran holds career averages of 12.3 points on a .444/.359/.836 slash line, 2.4 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game, making his mark in the league after being drafted 19th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Milwaukee marks the fifth team Teague will suit up for over his ongoing 12-year career. When the guard will make his team debut currently remains up in the air, but with the news now official, it should be in the coming days.

Before the newest Milwaukee Buck takes the court for the first time with his new team, here are three questions created in the aftermath of the move.

How much does Jeff Teague have left in the tank for the Milwaukee Bucks?

When the guard signed with Boston in the offseason, many declared him as one of the better backup points guards in the association.

His veteran presence and high basketball IQ seemingly made him a solid addition, but he could never find his footing with the team. Teague’s 34-game stint with Boston was unquestionably a forgettable one as he averaged just 6.9 points on .415/.464/.836 shooting splits, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Those numbers are among the least productive of his career, and one must consider just how much the guard might have left to offer to a contending team like the Bucks.

At 32 years old, Teague has his share of miles on him, but perhaps a change of scenery could be just what he needs. Furthermore, if there is anyone who could get the veteran back on the right track, it is Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer. The two-time Coach of the Year coached Teague for three seasons in Atlanta, one of which included Teague’s lone All-Star campaign in 2014-15.

While playing under Budenholzer will almost certainly not resurrect his career back to All-Star status, this reunion could be a big boost for his game. Playing alongside the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and others could also help him get back up to par, but it will remain unknown until he hits the hardwood.

Until then, just exactly what Teague brings to the table at this stage in his career is a mystery.

Will Jeff Teague have enough time to mesh with the Milwaukee Bucks?

With Teague having that previous connection to Budenholzer, his former head coach will undoubtedly look to get him involved in the rotation fairly quickly.

However, Teague is immediately put at a disadvantage trying to build chemistry with his new team as the clock continues ticking down to the postseason. With 25 games left in this regular season for the Bucks, it leaves Teague with little time to get acquainted with his new teammates before they hit the big stage.

He will have to get up to speed quickly, and perhaps filling a much-needed role under his former head coach will help. Milwaukee’s backcourt depth has been dry since they traded away backup point guard D.J. Augustin in their recent deal for defensive ace P.J. Tucker. They have been without a true backup point guard in the second unit since, and Teague will give them some immediate closure to fill that role.

Teague’s role on this team will not be massive, but he will still be an important piece for them, hypothetically providing the Bucks with another playmaking and floor spacing guard capable of coming off the bench. Both of those could be solid attributes for Milwaukee in the postseason, but the biggest factor for the guard right now is building chemistry with his new teammates. With his debut date still up in the air, it unquestionably seems to be an uphill battle, but time will tell.

Teague is currently listed on tonight’s injury report as questionable due to the league’s health and safety protocols, so his debut might be pushed back even further.

Will the Milwaukee Bucks still sign Austin Rivers?

The Jeff Teague signing shocked many because it had been rumored that the Bucks were rumored to be the frontrunners to sign Austin Rivers at the time.

Rivers had just secured a buyout from the OKC Thunder and seemed destined for a deal with the Bucks. Signing Teague certainly clouded that line of thinking, given that they would play a similar role of being that secondary ball handler off the bench.

While Teague gives Milwaukee a more traditional point guard to run the floor in the second unit, it is debatable that Rivers could be the better fit for this team. However, signing both is not out of the question just yet. The Bucks do have one open roster spot waiting to be filled, and Rivers remains a free agent out on the open market.

If there is still interest between the guard and Milwaukee, a deal is absolutely still in the cards. The biggest question is how the Teague signing could impact any potential role previously set aside for Rivers. Before the signing, Rivers would have taken on ball handling duties in the second unit and given them that spark, but now, Teague can assume that responsibility.

Perhaps Rivers could be searching for a more prominent role wherever he chooses to be his next landing spot, and the addition of Teague makes that a harder sell for Milwaukee to make. That is just pure speculation, which will continue to linger until Rivers ends up with the Bucks or elsewhere in the coming days.

Utilizing their final vacant roster spot on Austin Rivers would be a solid pickup for the Bucks, but only time will tell if there is still mutual interest from both parties. As of now, the guard remains on the free agent market.