The 2016 NBA Draft isn’t until Thursday, but it appears the first major move of the NBA offseason already is upon us.
The Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz have agreed to a three-team trade that will send Hawks guard Jeff Teague to Indianapolis, Pacers guard George Hill to Utah and the Jazz’s No. 12 pick to Atlanta, Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday, citing league sources.
Sources: Utah is sending the No. 12 pick in Thursday's Draft to Atlanta as part of deal that sends George Hill to Utah, Teague to Indy.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2016
The Pacers plan to sign Teague to a contract extension, per Wojnarowski’s sources.
This trade would be quite the blockbuster if it goes through. The Hawks reportedly considered moving Teague and teammate Al Horford at February’s NBA trade deadline, and he’ll now team up with All-Star Paul George on what could be a solid Pacers team.
Teague, an Indianapolis native, was an All-Star during the 2014-15 season and has averaged at least 15.7 points and 5.9 assists per game in each of his last three seasons.
Hill, who averaged 12.1 points per game for Indy last season, could add more of a scoring punch to a Utah team that boasts one of the NBA’s best defenses but struggled on the offensive end last season.
The Hawks, meanwhile, get a lottery pick and could be contemplating a rebuild after getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of this year’s NBA playoffs.
Horford will become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Back to Hawks: Sources say they'll now try to trade their two first-rounders (one from the Teague deal) to make re-signing Al Horford easier
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 22, 2016
Thumbnail photo via Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports Images