The New York Knicks and free-agent-to-be Jeff Teague share a mutual interest in each other, sources told ESPN’s Ian Begley. Teague will enter unrestricted free agency this weekend, where he’ll have multiple interested suitors, including New York.
With Phil Jackson out and the triangle de-emphasized, the Knicks, under general manager Steve Mills, have interest in free agent point guard Jeff Teague, league sources told ESPN. League sources say the interest in Teague is mutual. The Knicks, under Mills, had talked to the Hawks about trading for Teague two years ago.
Coming off a solid season with the Pacers, Teague, 29, must now decide whether to remain with a team transitioning itself from a role of contending to rebuilding and going young.
The Knicks and Phil Jackson parted ways early Wednesday morning, shocking the NBA world and its players. New York has a free agent point guard of its own, Derrick Rose, who Jackson previously expressed interest in bringing back. With Jackson no longer at the helm, Rose’s potential future in New York is in sudden uncertainty. Should the Knicks aim to move on from Rose, Teague could be their primary option at point guard.
The Knicks drafted Frank Ntikilina with their first-round draft pick last week, a French point guard at 18 years of age. Whether they hope to be competitive next season or aim for a brighter future is unclear, but the team’s first moves in free agency will reveal most of the unanswered questions fans have.
Teague, playing in all 82 games with Indiana last season, averaged 15.3 points and 7.8 assists in 32.4 minutes per contest.
He was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team with Atlanta two seasons ago.
