The Minnesota Timberwolves continued to reform their roster for an immediate playoff run this upcoming season, as the team announced the signings of veteran players Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague. Other outlets have reported that Gibson's deal is for two years at $28 million, while Teague's deal is for three years at $57 million.
With Gibson, Teague, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins, and Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota has assembled a good mix of experience, talent, and youth capable of finally propelling their franchise toward a deep playoff run.
Teague, 29, fills an immediate hole at point guard following the trade of Ricky Rubio to Utah. Teague played in all 82 regular season games for Indiana this past season, averaging 15.3 points and a career-best 7.8 assists per contest while shooting 44.2% from the floor, including a 35.7% mark from beyond the arc.
Teague enjoyed perhaps his best season in 2014-15 with Atlanta when he averaged 15.9 points on 46.0% shooting, 7.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 30.5 minutes per game en route to being named an Eastern Conference All-Star for the first time in his career.
The 6-2 guard owns career averages of 12.6 points and 5.5 assists in 600 games (465 starts) over eight seasons with the Hawks and Pacers. Teague is a career 35.5% shooter from beyond the arc, including connecting on a career-high 40.0% mark in 2015-16. He has appeared in 393 of a possible 410 contests over the last five years and played in at least 79 contests in four of the last five seasons. Last season Teague became the first Pacers player to play in all 82 regular season games since 2007-08.
Originally selected with the 19th overall pick by the Hawks in the 2009 NBA Draft, Teague has lead his teams to the NBA Playoffs in each of his eight NBA seasons, averaging 13.5 points and 4.8 assists in 66 postseason contests. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native averaged 17.0 points and 6.3 assists in four postseason games with the Pacers just a season ago.
Gibson, 32, reunites with Wolves Head Coach Tom Thibodeau after spending five seasons with him in Chicago from 2010-15. Under Thibodeau’s tutelage, the 6-9 forward averaged 9.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game over 352 contests (49 starts). He enjoyed a career year in 2013-14 when he posted averages of 13.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 82 contests, finishing second in the Sixth Man Award voting.
Gibson will add defense, rebounding, and seven years of playoff experience to the Wolves roster. Gibson’s best postseason came in 2013-14 when he averaged 18.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in five games.
Over his career, Gibson owns averages of 9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 25.1 minutes per game in eight seasons between Chicago and Oklahoma City. He was named to the 2009-10 NBA All-Rookie First Team after being selected by the Bulls with the 26th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services
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