The Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers have come to terms on a three-team deal, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Hawks are sending point guard Jeff Teague to the Pacers and getting the No. 12 pick in Thursday's draft from the Jazz. The Jazz, meanwhile, will be getting point guard George Hill from the Pacers.
Jeff Teague traded to Pacers, George Hill to Jazz in reported 3-team deal
The Hawks will get the No. 12 pick of the 2016 Draft from the Jazz.
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
The move makes sense for all teams involved. Teague had just one year and $8 million left on his contract and appeared in trade rumors all of last season, with the Jazz popping up as a potential landing place. The Hawks already had a replacement for him on the roster in Dennis Schroder, who at times has received the team's point guard minutes down the stretch. Atlanta now owns the No. 12 and No. 21 picks of the draft.
The Pacers get another shot creator who can take some of the pressure off Paul George and Monta Ellis and help the team play the up-tempo style that president Larry Bird and new head coach Nate McMillan would like. Teague averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists per game last season, one year after averaging 15.9 and seven and being named an All Star.
In Hill, the Jazz are adding one of the top defensive point guards in the league. The combination of Hill’s basketball savvy and 6’9 wingspan will make Utah’s already stingy defense -- 101.6 points surrendered per 100 possessions last season, the eighth-best mark in the league -- even stronger.
It’s reasonable to assume the Jazz could have bypassed the Pacers and taken Teague instead of Hill. Clearly, they preferred Hill and wanted to double down on defense.
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