Marquis Teague Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation on Nets Guard
Updates from Friday, Oct. 24
The Brooklyn Nets confirmed that they have traded Marquis Teague to the Philadelphia 76ers:
"Brooklyn #Nets complete trade with Philadelphia. Details here: http://t.co/K5hXmi80zz
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 24, 2014"
Rod Boone of Newsday shared the terms of the agreement:
"#Nets announce they've traded Marquis Teague & a 2019 2nd rd draft pick to #Sixers for Casper Ware.
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) October 24, 2014"
Original Text
For the second time in his three-year NBA career, 2012 first-round pick Marquis Teague appears to be on the precipice of being shipped out of town. The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are closing in on a deal that will send the former Kentucky star to Philadelphia, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Brooklyn is not expected to receive "anything of significance" in return. NBA rules prohibit assets to be traded without compensation, so the likeliest outcome is a conditional or highly protected draft pick or a non-guaranteed contract that can be easily waived.
Teague, 21, was drafted No. 29 overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2012. He left after only one up-and-down season at Kentucky, with the Bulls hoping Tom Thibodeau could mine the talent that made Teague a highly touted prep star.
The relationship did not work out. Teague struggled mightily on both ends of the floor and was excised from the Bulls rotation to the point he was relegated to D-League duty. He played in only 67 games with Chicago before the team cut bait, sending him to Brooklyn in exchange for Tornike Shengelia.
“It just wasn't clicking with Thibs the right way," Teague told reporters in January. “Just trying to figure out the system was kind of tough for me. The way they play isn't really my style, so it's kind of difficult for me.”
The Nets experience went a little better for Teague, as he averaged 3.0 points and 1.4 assists per game on 41.5 percent shooting in 21 appearances. But Brooklyn's offseason acquisition of Jarrett Jack leaves Teague without much chance at playing time.
His only extended preseason audition came in Wednesday night's loss to the Boston Celtics, where he scored 10 points and made four assists (with six turnovers) in 24 minutes. In four other appearances, Teague had a total of 13 points in 37 minutes played.
Moving on allows Brooklyn to shave Teague's $1.12 million salary and its subsequent luxury tax costs off the books. The Nets have well north of $90 million in guaranteed contracts on their books, per Sham Sports, putting them well above the $76.83 million luxury tax. In 2013-14, Brooklyn paid an NBA record $90.57 million in luxury taxes.
The Sixers, far under the salary cap as they continue their rebuilding effort, can absorb Teague's contract without sending salary in return. Philadelphia is likely willing to give Teague a shot due to Michael Carter-Williams' expected absence. The reigning Rookie of the Year has set a Nov. 13 target date for his return following offseason shoulder surgery, per Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com.
Tony Wroten will likely start at point guard while Carter-Williams is injured. Adding Teague may spell the end in Philadelphia for Casper Ware, a second-year guard who is on a non-guaranteed contract. Ware was impressive during his summer league run, but Philly's flirtation with adding a point guard may signal a dissatisfaction with the guard rotation.
Or it may just be Sam Hinkie rolling the dice on a former first-round pick available for pittance. You never know with this team.
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