Jeff Teague gives Timberwolves a renewed point of attack
— -- Minnesota Timberwolves coach/president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau and GM Scott Layden took a conservative approach to free agency in their first days running the team last year, and it essentially backfired on them. Their signings of Brandon Rush, Jordan Hill and Cole Aldrich were duds, and the team operated below the salary cap, leaving cash on the table.
They're clearly switching strategies now, landing Jeff Teague on a four-year, $57 million deal on the first day of free agency and targeting JJ Redick and Paul Millsap as well.
It was pretty clear that the Wolves got a commitment from Teague in conjunction with their trade of Ricky Rubio to Utah, a move that opened $33 million in cap space. Combined with the trade of Kris Dunn, the Wolves have jettisoned two defense-first point guards as they attempt to get more playmakers in their backcourt.
The value for Teague is reasonable in the market, although the four-year, $50 million deal the Spurs agreed to with Patty Mills really looked nice in the grand scheme. Teague's basic numbers aren't that much different from those of Jrue Holiday, who landed a massive five-year, $126 million deal from the Pelicans 12 hours after Teague's commitment.
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