Who Are the Atlanta Hawks Getting in the Jeff Teague Trade?

Jeff Teague will reportedly return to his hometown (Getty)

With the NBA Draft just over 24 hours away, it was reported Wednesday that three teams are involved in a deal that would include Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague and Indiana Pacers point guard George Hill.

According a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Hawks would receive the 12th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft as part of the deal, with Teague going to Indiana and Hill moving from Indiana to Utah. The move would signal Atlanta making its choice to go with Dennis Schröder as the franchise’s point guard of the future, with Teague entering the final year of a deal that will pay him $8 million in 2016-17.

By comparison Schröder, picked 17th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, is still on a rookie deal that as it currently stands will pay him a salary of $2,708,582 next season. If completed the trade would free up some money for the Hawks, with starting forward Al Horford becoming an unrestricted free agent July 1.

George Hill spent four seasons in Indiana (Getty)

As for Indiana, they’re also moving a point guard entering the final year of his deal as Hill was due to earn $8 million in 2016-17. Teague (12.1 ppg, 5.2 apg) had slightly higher scoring and assist averages than Hill (11.3, 3.3) last season, with Hill posting a higher offensive rating (114-106) and the two players having similar defensive ratings of 105 per basketball-reference.com.

Hill would potentially join a Utah team that has some questions to answer at the point, beginning with Dante Exum. Exum missed all of last season with a torn ACL and is seen as the future of the franchise at the position, but the acquisition of Hill gives them a veteran point guard who can run the show while Exum continues to develop.

Utah used Raul Neto, Shelvin Mack and Trey Burke at the point in 2015-16, and getting better play at that spot could push them into the playoffs after just missing out this past season. Due to NBA salary cap rules, the deal won’t become official until next month.