The first big move of the NBA offseason and draft process came in on Wednesday and it was a big one. Of course, when there's a big trade it means Adrian Wojnarowski is going to break the news and he did that once again here. The Atlanta Hawks traded point guard Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers, who sent George Hill to the Utah Jazz, with Atlanta receiving the 12th overall pick from Utah.
Atlanta had been shopping Teague around the league for a few weeks and found its match with this three-team deal. Teague, who enters the last year of his contract, became expendable after Dennis Schroder proved he could handle starting point guard duties for the Hawks last season and run the team effectively. Now Atlanta has a starting point guard for the future who is just 22 years old and a top-12 pick in the NBA Draft.
This was a move that really made sense for all sides, something nice to see in the NBA. Indiana has its star player in Paul George and a player on the rise in Myles Turner but George Hill wasn't the caliber of point guard that could help elevate the Pacers playoff chances. Teague has proven he can be that caliber point guard, just a season removed from averaging nearly 16 points, seven assists and 1.7 steals per game in 2014, and still posting a very respectable line in 2015.
Not only is it a great overall move for Indiana, but it also serves as a homecoming. Teague was raised in Indiana and has family in the area, making it the perfect situation for him to thrive on a playoff contender and be near his friends and family. While Teague is in the last year of his deal, Wojnarowski added that the Pacers will work to sign him to an extension, and that seems probable to happen given it is the perfect landing spot for Teague.
Utah also improves its point guard situation, by a large margin considering it had to use Trey Burke and Shelvin Mack last season in major minutes. While Dante Exum is expected to return from a torn ACL, he is still primarily a defensive guard who has yet to prove his offensive game and after missing his sophomore NBA season with a knee injury, his long-term potential is still a question mark.
The 30-year-old Hill offers the Jazz a veteran starter who can help add three-point shooting and quality minutes at the guard spot, much more than anything they could have hoped for from the 12th overall pick. Hill will enter the final year of his contract, but arrives in a situation where the Jazz are on the rise and he should have plenty of opportunities to succeed.
Teague and Schroder's fantasy value is certainly on the rise with this trade, especially Schroder now that he should see 30-plus minutes a game. It will also be interesting to see if the addition of Teague gives Indiana any added shot at luring in Al Horford for a visit.