Jeff Teague signs 3-year, $57 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves

Jeff Teague has signed a 3-year deal worth $57 million with the Minnesota Timberwolves to become the team’s starting point guard.

Jeff Teague was the first domino to fall to start free agency. The Timberwolves made a splash to start the night by signing a veteran point guard.

Teague joins as the team’s starting point guard next to Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news:

Teague was a must get for the Timberwolves given the fact that they shipped out point guards as of late. Ricky Rubio was traded to the Jazz in an effort to clear cap space for free agency. Minnesota also dumped Kris Dunn in the deal to acquire star Jimmy Butler. The excitement around the T-Wolves could position them as a top-four seed in the West.

Teague spent the past year with the Pacers after originally being drafted by the Hawks. He’s originally from Indianapolis, so there was a possibility of Teague remaining with the Pacers. The point guard market seems as if there weren’t a ton of suitors in the need for a point, or maybe the supply is just sufficient for the demand.

During the 2016-2017 regular season, Jeff Teague averaged 15.3 points and 7.8 assists per game. The new T-Wolves point guard is also a competent 3-point shooter, as he converted on 40 percent of his attempts beyond the arc two years ago with Atlanta. Replacing Rubio with Teague will be something to monitor moving forward as Rubio is three years younger.

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Teague, 29, will earn a big time raise after inking a 4-year, $32 million deal in 2013. George Hill, Jrue Holiday and Kyle Lowry are the other point guards who will be next in line to sign a deal in free agency.