Draft Report: Jeff Teague Of Wake Forest

By: Christopher Reina
RealGM.com Writer

March 22, 2009 2:12 PM

Jeff Teague is in elite company in terms of being an elite playmaker off the dribble. Building off a low center of gravity, Teague's excellent handle takes him anywhere on the floor he wants to go. He is kind of like Frogger in how he will zig and zag into space with his halfcourt penetration. Teague uses east/west dribbles effectively, constantly changes his pace and has an incredibly useful spin move.

Teague knifes into space with great precision and has an incredibly second gear, especially when he senses a lane he can use to reach the bucket.

He is mostly a below the rim player, but he occasionally can deliver a massive flush as he did in this clip against Maryland. Teague has the skill set and savvy to still score around the basket even when he loses that extra boost in his lift. He is half a Stephon Marbury 'climb the ladder' type of finisher and the other half is more of a 'bounce off the man slowly' like Chris Paul. He is better doing the latter and will be more frequently used by him in the NBA, where he can savvily use the glass.

A potential problem with both of the aforementioned modes of finish is how well Teague will adapt to the secondary defender that is a 6'11" NBA player instead of an undersized ACC big. He already is skilled at bumping into his man and backing up to get his shot off and he will rely on that ability more often on the next level.

Teague is very solid on the pick and roll in terms of timing and delivery. He is a good passer, but not a great one at this point. He leaves the air too much to make decisions, though he gets away with it more than most due to his innate improvisational abilities being so impressive.

He also really likes the homerun plays, which make him undeniably turnover prone. His five turnovers during Wake Forest's elimination loss to Cleveland State were completely inexcusable in terms of how and where they came.

Teague shot 44.1% from beyond the arc during his sophomore season and is unquestionably effective on the catch and shoot. His form does not lead to him being characterized as a pure shooter. He has a consistent release and follow-though, but is not quite fluid and more of a set shot. Depending on how he decides to shoot from beyond the arc in the pros, he is probably a 35% shooter from distance, with that number fluctuating 5% up or down if he has to create his own or gets a lot of kick out open looks.

But kick out open looks are something that he himself will create a lot of for his teammates. He does really well going inside and then back out to a spot-up shooter and he is best suited for an offense that relies heavily on the drive and kick.

Defensively, Teague will need to increase his consistency. He is quick enough laterally to defend any point guard and though he needs to add strength, his frame will allow it. He has quick hands and good anticipatory instincts and creates a lot of steals and deflections. He also will use some of the slippery-ness of the offensive end to get through pick and rolls. Like many great college players, effort is more of a question than talent on the defensive end.

Teague is an excellent point guard prospect with virtually no bust potential and enough upside to be in the top-15 in the NBA at the position.

I want to hear actual scouts takes on him but that sounds promising. Will we finish high enough to take him?

LOL@ no bust potential. JohnWallace is right, that has con written all over it...seeing which organization is dumb enough to take the bait.s

Nate has already been scapegoated, eviscerated, chewed up, and deep fried by this board. Good luck looking for objective solid analysis on the kid. Everybody here thinks every potential lotto pick is the next Lebron so they are ready to send the whole Knick squad on the first thing smokin.

Posted by sebstar:

Nate has already been scapegoated, eviscerated, chewed up, and deep fried by this board. Good luck looking for objective solid analysis on the kid. Everybody here thinks every potential lotto pick is the next Lebron so they are ready to send the whole Knick squad on the first thing smokin.

We're going to keep Nate for what? To run point? Nah.

This whole team needs to be wiped clean and rebuilt. Whatever we can trade for on their way out the door, fine.

There are no leaders, no winners, only one two way player, and he's too timid (Chandler).

Posted by fishmike:

I think he's a good player, but why not just keep Nate and draft a wing or big? He's not the pure playmaker PG type, he's a combo scorer that makes plays off his ability to score. He's also a lousy defender. I am 80% sure Nate is gone, but it seems silly to let a good combo scorer we already have go and draft exactly the same player. No?

If you take Evans, then you have a chance to have a really good backcourt with Nate and evans. Evans has height and has pg skills it would compliment Nate well.

Well the Knicks are looking to buy some talent in 2010...they kinda need a sure thing in this draft...if its not a sure thing they need to trade the pick. I'm thinking Ty Lawson should be the pick for the Knicks. Right now in the NCAA's the team goes where Ty Lawson can take them. He has been awesome playmaking, running the team and taking over when they need him to. Maynor is another one but he is more of a combo guard, yet he still has supreme control of what his team is doing.

Posted by JohnWallace44:

Lawson is tiny. Come on. We're at such a huge size disadvantage every time out there.

uhhhh....teague is 6'2 and 175lbs...lawson is 6' and 195lbs....I think that evens it out. Ty Lawson is still the better point guard/floor general.

Posted by EnySpree:

btw...not to change subject but if he's there, I think the Knicks almost have to pick BJ Mullens. Knicks are in need of a center and if he comes out he's the best available in the draft.


edit: yo man I dunno what you guys think but this is a very deep draft!

[Edited by - enyspree on 26-03-2009 12:27 PM]

But you've changed the subject, so what and what is with this what not of 'not to-'-- and how did this go from a shallow draft to a deep one within one-month's span? Cheerio, mates.

Are you Clyde, Sage?

Nate's got to go. He's like Ocho Cinco. You spend so much time trying to focus the guy's energy, what's left for the rest of the team?