Pacers point guard Jeff Teague, among the array of marquee free-agent playmakers available in July, admits he once hoped to get traded to the Knicks from Atlanta when GM Steve Mills inquired back near the trade deadline in early 2014.
That was a month before Phil Jackson and the triangle. Teague acknowledged New York likely will be a spot he investigates this July, saying, “Everybody loves New York.’’
However, Teague indicated the triangle offense isn’t well-suited for a penetrating point guard like himself and Knicks incumbent Derrick Rose.
Teague, traded from the Hawks last summer to his hometown Pacers, said he’s not too familiar with the triangle except for the few times he’s been asked to defend it. Jackson has ordered a renewed emphasis on the triangle since the week before the All-Star break.
“I never played in the triangle,’’ Teague told The Post before facing the Knicks on Tuesday at the Garden. “I don’t know too much about it – just from guarding it years in the past. So I recognize it.’’
Is it difficult to guard? Teague laughed.
“Not really,’’ Teague said. “I’m not saying you can’t defend it. I think a player like Rose, it gives you a better chance of containing him.”
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek claimed not to be concerned July’s free agents – point guards in particular – will be turned off by the triangle. Hornacek originally tried – and failed – to blend his speedball/drag/pick-and-roll attack with Jackson’s system.
“There might be players out there who think that way, but there are also probably players out there who say, ‘Oh, man, I’d like to run something like that,’’’ Hornacek said after Wednesday’s practice. “Guys might not necessarily want to run around in the staggers. It’s still an offense guys who are knowledgeable in the game should like. It’s a strategy almost every time down the court as a player. In a way, looking at it that way, it’s fun to run.’’
Teague has never been an unrestricted free agent and may consider doing a tour, though he’s a native son of Indiana. Teague was a restricted free agent in 2013, but his offer sheet from the Bucks was matched by the Hawks.
Rose also will be a free agent, and his lukewarm vision of the triangle (“random basketball’’) is likely a reason he’s a long shot to return. Rose scoffed when asked if missing 16 days of training camp — he was a defendant in a civil sexual assault trial in California — hurt his learning of the triangle.
“I felt we had a sense of the triangle when we came out [of camp],’’ Rose said. “I pick up things quick. Me being gone away at trial wasn’t a problem. You just pass the ball to the top and run to the corner. How hard could that [be]. That’s not hard at all.”
Teague, who turns 29 in June, is a solid penetrator like Rose, but a more creative passer and significantly better 3-point shooter. Teague is averaging 15.1 points, 7.9 assists and hitting 35 percent of his 3-pointers.
“I think everybody loves New York,’’ Teague said when asked about considering the Knicks. “It’s a great place to play. ‘’
Teague was eager to learn the Knicks had investigated his availability three years ago when the Hawks shopped him.
“My brother called me,’’ Teague said. “I was open to it. I thought they had real nice players here. I was excited.’’