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Second-hand Woj bomb, suckas!
As @WojVerticalNBA and I discuss on his podcast: Keep an eye on Atlanta before the trade deadline. Hawks been discussing Jeff Teague w/teams
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixYS) January 27, 2016
If Adrian Wojnarowski says it in a podcast, it must be true, right?
OK, so let us assume that the Hawks are genuinely interested in trading point guard Jeff Teague. The Knicks would have to be all over those trade talks. And indeed they are, per Ian Begley:
The Knicks are one of several teams who have talked to Atlanta about a trade for point guard Jeff Teague, league sources tell ESPN. (1/2).
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 27, 2016
Knicks have limited assets, may have to get creative to land Teague. Yahoo! earlier reported ATL was listening to offers on the PG (2/2)
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 27, 2016
Teague is having a down year -- and he's been struggling through a chronic ankle injury -- but he was a legitimate All-Star in 2014-15, and it's nearly impossible to fathom just how much New York could use a player of his talents.
If you think Kristaps Porzingis is good now, just wait until he plays with a point guard who does more than just toss him the ball 17 feet from the basket. Kristaps averages 1.13 points per possession in the pick-and-roll, the same number as Chris Bosh; sadly, the Knicks run pick-and-roll on a mere 12.9% of his possessions. A legit P-n-R point guard like Teague could improve Kristaps' scoring efficiency practically from Day 1.
Now, about that "limited assets" part. This seems like as good a time as ever for an inventory. Let's just assume the front office is trying to hold on to their 2018 and 2020 first-rounders (please!). They have, by my count, four second-rounders between now and 2022 -- one in 2017, one in 2018, and two in 2019. The Knicks finally have some young talent, it's true, but not much in the way of legit trade pieces. Langston Galloway will be a restricted free agent at the end of this season, as will Cleanthony Early. Derrick Williams -- still somehow only 24 years old -- might actually have some trade value at this point, but somehow I doubt it. Kyle O'Quinn is young and signed to a very reasonable deal. Willy Hernangomez is still stashed overseas.
In a rather delicious twist of irony, the Knicks' finest trade chip is undoubtedly Jerian Grant ... you know, the same guy they traded for Tim Hardaway Jr. LOLZ.
And that's pretty much it. If the Hawks are attempting a mini-rebuild, they don't exactly match up well with New York. Another point guard-needy team -- Utah, perhaps -- could field a much better offer. Still, it doesn't hurt to ask.