The latest on the rumor mill regarding potential NBA trades is that the Atlanta Hawks are looking to move either Jeff Teague or Dennis Schroder, but are more focused on moving the former. Among the expected interested parties includes the Milwaukee Bucks, but is a trade before the NBA deadline a realistic move for the team?
To begin, it's important to look at the likelihood that the Hawks would move Teague, and what they're looking for in return.
Suffice to say, it makes sense that they would be willing to trade him. He provides some real value for a solid return, as he was an All-Star last year and really helped to propel Atlanta to its 60-win season. He also only has one more year on his contract after this season, and is at a fair price of $8 million for his services this year and the next.
In 2015-16, Teague has taken a slight step back, averaging fewer points, assists and steals while shooting four percent less as well than a year ago. But he's still been pretty productive. However, Schroder has been slightly more productive, as per-36-minute numbers are a bit higher than Teague's, and the team has played better with him on the floor as well.
So if the Hawks were to make a deal involving Teague, they'd likely be looking for some combination of the following: first-round picks, a swing man to replace Demarre Carroll's production or a backup big man as insurance for Al Horford's impending free agency.
Now the Bucks' alleged interest comes from ESPN's Zach Lowe, who mentions their RFA offer before Teague re-signed with the Hawks.
However, that offer was before they traded for Michael Carter-Williams and Jason Kidd became the head coach. So the question is, do they still like him with the current personnel?
I have to imagine they'd rather have Teague as the starter than MCW. They need some guys who are more talented, and even on a down year shooting for Teague, he's hitting threes at .387 clip -- a clear step up on Carter-Williams' talents. But in fact, they could keep MCW and still acquire Teague, and then have a great 1-2 punch at point guard that would be more potent than MCW and Jerryd Bayless.
Assuming the Bucks are actually interested, and that's still a pretty big "if," they have a couple of options that could interest Atlanta.
First off, O.J. Mayo has to be a consideration. Mayo's salary lines up perfectly with Teague's at $8 million even, and he could be the wing scorer that the Hawks would covet. He's having a down year himself, and maybe a change of scenery would be good. The Bucks could also add protected draft picks or second-rounders to match the value in the deal.
Another option that may be more likely would be a combination of players such as John Henson, Tyler Ennis, Miles Plumlee and Bayless, where they could move two or three of those guys as they all have small contracts and could be of interest to the Hawks.
Overall, the only way a deal is going to get done is if Kidd isn't happy with their current point guard play and likes Teague as much as the Bucks' front office did a couple of years ago. If that's the case, great -- there will certainly be talks between these two squads. If not, though, then this is just another rumor that is unlikely to have anything come of it.
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