The Timberwolves were declared winners by national outlets on NBA Draft night when they acquired three-time All-Star Jimmy Butler for Zach LaVine and Kris Dun. However, players from the NBA also took notice. Specifically, Jeff Teague.
“You can ask my agent, when the trade went down I said I wanted to go to Minnesota,” said Teague at an introductory press conference Monday. “He was like, ‘are you sure? Alright, I’ll call you back.’ That special day on July 1st it all came together.”
Clearly, Minnesota felt the same way because shortly before free agency opened the Wolves traded Ricky Rubio to Utah to clear the way for Teague.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau had no problem with a proven winner seeking out his T-Wolves as a destination team. Teague helped the Atlanta Hawks to the best record in the East in 2014-15, which included a stop in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Teague, 29, is a smooth shooter having made 42% from the floor in his career while knocking 35% from behind the arc.
“I don’t think you can measure them by their statistics,” said Thibodeau. “I think you measure them by what they do for their team. They both (Teague and Taj Gibson) prioritize winning, they both put the team first and that’s what we’re looking for. It’s the winning that matters.”
