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Indiana Pacers: Jeff Teague’s 2016 Player Preview

By Garrett Hagan

Dec 8, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) brings the ball up court against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Atlanta defeats Indiana 108-92. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) brings the ball up court against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Atlanta defeats Indiana 108-92. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indiana Pacers‘ 2016 season doesn’t begin for quite some time. So, there will not be much news about the team until then. As a result, it is time to preview the Pacers’ players who will play key roles in 2016. It is Jeff Teague‘s turn today.

The Indiana Pacers acquired guard Jeff Teague a few weeks ago via a three-team trade. As a result, the Pacers would send guard George Hill to the Utah Jazz. The Move was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.

Last season for the Hawks, Teague averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists through 79 games — earning a spot in the All-Star game. His best season came in 2013-14 when he averaged over 16 points and six assists per game — the season in which the 8th-seed Hawks with Teague took the Eastern Conference-best Pacers to seven games in the first round of that year’s playoffs.

With the acquisition of Teague, the Pacers get a point guard that they haven’t had in years. On average, Teague attacks the rim nearly 12 times per game — significantly more than Hill had done.

Comparing the two, Teague is perhaps the better point guard between Hill and himself. Hill had his moments with the Pacers in which he would be one of the best players on the floor, but those games were of rare occurrence. More often than not would Hill sit in the corner waiting for the ball to come his way, rather than attack the rim or facilitate offense for the team.

2016 Expectations

If healthy for the majority of the year, Teague should have another big season this time being with his new team. As an Indianapolis native himself, Teague should also be a popular player amongst the local fans.

The addition of Teague to the Pacers’ roster means that Paul George necessarily doesn’t have to do all of the work now on the floor in terms of facilitating offense. George now has the best point guard he’s had in his career by his side in Teague — something we can all look forward to.

Next: Indiana Pacers: Paul George's 2016 Player Preview

Expect the 28-year-old point guard to average double-digit points and somewhere around five-to-six assists per game in 2016. With a rising star in Myles Turner, as well as Thaddeus Young, Monta Ellis and George on the floor, and Teague will have many options and variables at creating offense and producing quality numbers.

It may be too early to tell what type of awards or honors that Teague could earn over the course of the upcoming season, but expect him to make a sure impact on the team and prove to Larry Bird that he made the right decision in trading for the former Pike High School guard.

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