The Austin rivers mystery surrounding to the Milwaukee Bucks reportedly has an answer.
As first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania Wednesday night, the journeyman guard is nearing on a deal to sign with the Denver Nuggets in light of them losing Jamal Murray to a torn ACL earlier this week.
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Of course, the Bucks had been considered frontrunners for Rivers’ services after he was bought out by the Oklahoma City Thunder after getting dealt there on the day of last month’s trade deadline. Instead, the Bucks subsequently signed Jeff Teague to fill their backup point guard role after dealing away D.J. Augustin in their trade for P.J. Tucker.
In all intents and purposes, the Bucks made the clear decision to bring in Teague instead of Rivers and one can only wonder whether how real the Bucks’ interest in Rivers was to begin with.
The question that some Bucks fans may be asking right now is were the Bucks right in that approach and with that in mind, let’s break down their decision to signing Jeff Teague over Austin Rivers.
Jeff Teague has filled a vital role since joining the Milwaukee Bucks
There’s certainly no one right answer in this, but Teague’s first handful of appearances with the Bucks have given them exactly what they have needed at the backup point guard position.
Since making his debut earlier this month, Teague has brought the trademark paint penetration that he has been known for throughout his career, along with his newfound consistent outside shooting. Teague is averaging 7.3 points on 17-for-34 shooting from the field and 4-for-10 from downtown, along with 3.3 assists, 1.3 rebounds across 17.3 minutes in his seven appearances thus far.
Considering what the Bucks were getting from Augustin previously, who was their richest free agent signing last offseason, Teague has given nearly the same production and efficiency in his limited minutes so far and at a bargain price.
Clearly the familiarity of previously playing under Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer has helped Teague find his footing in Milwaukee, a place where he explored signing last offseason. There’s been no time like the present for Teague to come aboard and continue playing a valuable role for a Bucks team looking to reverse their playoff disappointments of the last couple of years.