Knicks Rumors: Pros and Cons of pursuing Jeff Teague in free agency

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Apr 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Jeff Teague (44) dribbles the ball as Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph (6) defends in the second half of the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers beat the Raptors 108-90. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Con: Asking Price

The New York Knicks are entering free agency with nearly $20 million in cap space. That creates a number of intriguing opportunities, but it also presents a harsh reality that must be evaluated and accepted.

If the Knicks are going to outbid the opposition and sign Teague, then they may need to utilize the entirety of the remaining cap space to do so.

First and foremost, Teague is an Indiana native who played for the Indiana Pacers in 2016-17. Thus, if the Knicks are going to convince Teague to leave his hometown team, then it will likely require a hefty payment.

If that proves to be the case, then the Knicks would be investing four lucrative contract years into a 29-year-old point guard with questionable long-term value.

Teague is a solid point guard, but offering him a contract in the neighborhood of $20 million per season would be tough to justify. New York has talent, but its core pieces beyond Carmelo Anthony are young and not exactly operating along Teague’s timeline.

To hand a four-year contract that will likely rival what Joakim Noah received just last summer would be a difficult decision to justify.