Wolves, Hawks swap guards Teague, Crabbe on expiring deals
With the Minnesota Timberwolves committed to a new style of play, Jeff Teague didn't fit the trend.
The Timberwolves traded the 11th- year veteran point guard to his original team Thursday in a three- player swap of backups with the Atlanta Hawks, who sent shooting guard Allen Crabbe in return.
The Timberwolves also dealt shooting guard Treveon Graham, creating a roster space for potential other transactions prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. It was the first significant in-season move by new president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, who let the first wave of players acquired by the previous regime go last summer soon after he was hired.
Teague, who played his first seven NBA seasons with the Hawks after they made him the 19th overall pick in the 2009 draft, went to his only All-Star game in 2015 for Atlanta.
Crabbe is a better stylistic fit for the fast-paced, 3-pointfavoring offense the Wolves have transitioned to under Rosas and first- year coach Ryan Saunders. He is a career 38.9% shooter from 3-point range who averaged 5.1 points in 28 games for the Hawks this season.
The 31- year- old Teague, who's making $19 million, and the 27-year-old Crabbe, who's earning $18.5 million, are both playing on expiring contracts.
Graham is only signed through this season, too.
Teague averaged 13.4 points and 7.1 assists in 146 games with the Timberwolves over 2 1/2 seasons, a well-respected leader in the locker room whose time with the team was hampered by knee and ankle injuries. He played in only 42 games last season and was moved into a
reserve role two months ago, with Shabazz Napier and Jarrett Culver taking the turns at point guard. Andrew Wiggins, whose natural position is the small forward spot, has frequently initiated the offense, too.
With the Hawks, Teague will provide a steady backup to star Trae Young. They've been using G League product
Brandon Goodwin in relief lately.
Suns 121, Knicks 98: Deandre Ayton had 26 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, leading Phoenix to a third win in four games.
The Suns shot 51% (47 for 92) from the field and placed five players in double figures. Devin Booker scored 29
points, and Ricky Rubio had 25 points and 13 assists.
Julius Randle led the Knicks with 26 points. Marcus Morris Sr., who returned to the starting lineup after missing five games with a sore neck, had 17 points, and Mitchell Robinson finished with 12.