NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 potential destinations for Jeff Teague

Jeff Teague had a successful season with the Indiana Pacers. But they’re a team in flux and he might look elsewhere in free agency. Where would Teague fit best?

Jeff Teague played well in his one season with the Indiana Pacers, after being trade by the Atlanta Hawks. It took him a little while to find his rhythm but he shot and distributed the ball well and the Pacers’ offense was respectable with him at the helm. However, Teague’s defense proved to be a problem for the Pacers, particularly in the playoffs.

For Indiana, everything revolves around Paul George. If they decide they need to win-now in an effort to keep him happy, bringing Teague back is probably the obvious move. If the Pacers trade George, Teague is likely gone as well. However, Teague may decide that there is a better fit for himself, regardless of the George saga.

Here are the five best fits for Jeff Teague.

5. Philadelphia 76ers

Sixers fans will be haunted for the rest of Bryan Colangelo’s tenure, at least until the team begins to contend, by free agency rumors. With a heap of cap space every summer until Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons get maxed out, Philly can honestly claim to have the space for any player. They are projected to have nearly $50 million in room this summer, and need a point guard. Their needs at the position are different than most teams, with the expectation that Simmons occupies that spot on offense when he’s on on the floor. The Sixers need a secondary ball-handler who can either shoot or defend as well; Teague checks enough of their boxes to be in play.

As Philadelphia begins to figure out the construct of their roster long term, they are entering the stage of the rebuild where they need to start patching their holes. Their need for a point guard is well-documented, and they may well find one in the draft. If they can’t get their hands on a prospect they like next Thursday, they will likely look to the free agent market. Bryan Colangelo was brought on with the expectation of accelerating the rebuild, and this summer will be his first opportunity to do so. A potential Teague signing seems like something he might do to move the team forward.

It wouldn’t be destructive, but Teague clearly does not fit the trajectory of this team. Embiid has not yet played even half of one NBA season, and Simmons has not seen the court. They just traded Nerlens Noel and have a similar decision to make regarding Jahlil Okafor’s future. International assets are still at various points along the path toward producing for the Sixers. Teague would be a stopgap, but also brings the danger of stunting the growth of the other ball-handling prospects on the team. Perhaps Simmons struggles to acclimate without the ball in his hands, or the team would rather continue to develop T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez.

Last summer, Philadelphia gave itself several options at point guard and saw how rewarding it was for their young prospects. Deciding whether or not to sign a player like Teague is a matter of how confident they are in those options and how eager they are to compete next season.