This season's NBA trade deadline was relatively quiet, particularly in the way of big trades. There were a lot of big names said to be available, but for the most part those guys stayed put, which made Tobias Harris the biggest name to be moved. One of the bigger names that some people expected to be traded was Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, but they ended up holding on to him. They did however offer a deal to the Milwaukee Bucks that would have returned them Khris Middleton, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com, a trade which the Bucks declined.
The Bucks have had their eyes on Teague for quite some time now. When Teague was a restricted free agentin 2013 they signed him to a four-year $32 million offer sheet. The Hawks eventually matched that offer sheet, and that is the contract he is still playing on, but the Bucks still want him, it just has to be for the right price.
Head coach Jason Kidd and the rest of the Bucks have made it relatively clear that they are not happy with Michael Carter-Williams as their future point guard so they are looking to upgrade. The guy they mainly have their eye on is Ricky Rubio, but the Timberwolves don't seem all that willing to trade him at the moment. The Bucks were said to have interest in Teague when he was initially considered available, but they are unwilling to trade Middleton for him.
Milwaukee signed Middleton to a five-year, $70 million extension this offseason, which he is currently in the first year of. Middleton (24) is having the best season of his career by far, as he leads the team with 17.8 points per game and is shooting 40 percent from three. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard has been one of the Bucks' most consistent players all year and looks to be a key piece for their very bright future.
It was a wise move for the Hawks to ask for Middleton in return for Teague because they knew the Bucks were interested, and they asked for a steep price just in case they wanted Teague that badly. Talks reportedly broke off relatively quickly because the Bucks wisely have no interest in dealing Middleton, but they could very easily be revisited this summer. Teague still has another year left on his contract, but the Hawks seem resigned to the fact that Dennis Schroder is their point guard of the future, so they may look to trade Teague in the offseason. If that is the case, the Bucks will likely show interest again, assuming the asking price has lowered for Middleton.
