Jeff Teague says he’s open to long-term deal with Pacers

The Indiana Pacers acquired point guard Jeff Teague this offseason in the hopes that he would be more than just a rental chip, and it looks like they may be getting their wish.

In his introductory press conference on Monday, Teague expressed his openness to signing a long-term deal with the Pacers down the road.

“I would love to be here,” Teague said per Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star. “I’m from here. I’ve always wanted to play for the Pacers.

“I would love to spend the rest of my career here,” Teague continued. “This is the best basketball city.”

The 28-year-old Teague, who was born and raised in Indianapolis, was acquired by the Pacers in a three-team deal with the Hawks and the Jazz last month. He is in the final year of his contract and is due to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Teague makes sense for the Pacers from a basketball perspective as his off-the-bounce friskiness and his ability to poke holes in defenses through his passing or through his lightning-quick dribble drives should represent an interesting change of pace from former point guard George Hill. With Indiana looking ripe for a renewed sense of playoff contention in 2016-17, hopefully Teague can serve as a cornerstone of that movement for many years to come.

H/T Rotoworld