Marquis Teague Waived by 76ers: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Marquis Teague's stint with the Philadelphia 76ers lasted barely through the weekend. The Sixers waived him Monday after he was acquired in a trade from Brooklyn Friday.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported the news, adding that Elliot Williams was waived:
Teague played 67 games in his first season-plus for a then-depleted Bulls lineup, even starting three games in his sophomore 2013-14 campaign. But he didn't last in Chicago, with his field-goal percentage dropping from .381 as a rookie to .319 in his second year. He went back and forth in the D-League until the Bulls traded him to Brooklyn in January.
The point guard was moved again Friday in a deal sending Casper Ware to Brooklyn, with the potential of cracking the rotation on a youthful and wide-open 76ers roster. He was excited at the time, per his Twitter:
"Headed 2 Philly!!!!
— Marquis Teague (@marquisteague25) October 24, 2014"
Philadelphia head coach Brett Brown liked what he saw from Teague and wanted to see more after the trade, but that apparently only took a few days.
"He is a young talent with lots of potential," Brown told CSNPhilly.com's Dei Lynam. "The trick for him in the future is controlling his speed. Knowing how to not play in a crowd and play too fast, learning how to slow the game down in his mind and body. Pace can get the better of most people, but let's face it speed is a gift. How you tap into it is the true test."
The Sixers are just the latest club to acquire Teague hoping for him to assume a role in the rotation, only to find a new plan. It's not hard to see why they've all been high on his potential—after being one of the top high school players in the country, a sparkling freshman season of college with Kentucky propelled him to the 29th overall pick in 2012.
Joshua Newman of SNYtv thought back on how Teague could have benefited from a few more years in college, but ESPN's Amin Elhassan noted hindsight is 20-20:
Either way, things aren't looking up for the youngster as he is without a NBA home for the first time in his career. Matt Jones of KentuckySportsRadio.com chimed in:
Being without a roster spot—and recently waived by one of the NBA's worst teams—isn't where you want to be on the eve of the regular season, but he still has a chance to be picked up on waivers. It wouldn't be surprising if he landed a spot in the D-League considering his extensive experience in just two seasons.
However, Philadelphia figured to be an ideal fit for both Teague and the 76ers. Not only would it have given him the opportunity to prove himself with extended minutes, but it also would have given the team a chance to inject some more youthful energy.
Now, Teague will be looking for a new organization to give him that opportunity.
