Brooklyn Nets & Philadelphia 76ers Swap Guards Marquis Teague & Casper Ware
On October 24th, 2014, the Philadelphia 76ers traded guard Casper Ware to the Brooklyn Nets for guard Marquis Teague and a 2019 second round draft pick (Admiral Schofield).
Marquis Teague became a member of the Brooklyn Nets organization in the middle of the 2013-14 season when he was traded by the Chicago Bulls for forward Toko Shengelia. Teague played limited minutes in Brooklyn. The 6-foot-2 guard appeared in 21 games (one start) and produced 3.0 PPG, 1.0 RPG and 1.4 APG in 9.6 MPG.
Brooklyn finished the ‘13-‘14 season at 44-38. The team won its first round matchup with the Toronto Raptors 4-3 before falling to the Miami Heat in five games. Teague did not play in Brooklyn’s playoff run.
Teague was on Brooklyn’s Summer League entry in 2014 and compiled 9.8 PPG on 45.5% from the field, 1.6 RPG and 5.8 APG in 18.6 MPG. Teague received a chance to play in the 2014 preseason with Brooklyn. He started in one game, but didn’t do enough to impress the team.
At the heart of Teague’s problems with Brooklyn, was his efficiency on the floor. Teague had yet to showcase any sign of improved play as he was entering his fourth season. He had the worst Player Efficiency Rating (4.8) of any player that had played more than 82 games.
Casper Ware signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers in late March of 2014. Ware eventually stayed on with the Sixers for the rest of the season and managed 5.3 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 1.1 APG and 0.9 SPG in nine appearances and 12.9 MPG.
Ware played for Philadelphia’s two 2014 Summer League appearances in Orlando and Las Vegas. In total, Ware averaged 15.6 PPG on 40.4% from the field, 3.1 RPG and 4.3 APG in seven contests.
As the regular season was approaching, the Nets were deep in the luxury tax and an avenue towards saving some money on their luxury tax bill involved getting rid of Teague’s guaranteed contract. Brooklyn had chosen to keep on point guard Jorge Gutierrez as their third string point guard. Gutierrez had a relatively small guarantee of $25,000 on his contract. The Nets were looking to find a trade to get off of Teague’s salary.
Ware’s contract was non-guaranteed which was a fit for the Nets. Since Brooklyn was looking to get off of Teague’s guaranteed deal, they had to include a second rounder to send to Philadelphia. The Nets received a $1,120,920 trade exception as well in the trade.
Ware was waived by the Nets the day after the trade. Teague didn’t last much longer. He was waived two days later by Philadelphia.
The 2019 second rounder that went to Philadelphia in the trade was the higher pick between the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings (both owned by the Nets) in the 2009 draft.
The pick ended up being conveyed from Sacramento since the Kings had the worse record in the 2018-19 season. Philadelphia ended up with the 42nd pick and the selection was used on Tennessee forward Admiral Schofield. The Sixers subsequently dealt the rights to Schofield with guard-forward Jonathon Simmons to the Washington Wizards for $2 million in cash considerations.
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown on Marquis Teague (Bleacher Report via CSN Philly):
“He is a young talent with lots of potential. The trick for him in the future is controlling his speed. Knowing how to not play in a crowd and play too fast, learning how to slow the game down in his mind and body. Pace can get the better of most people, but let's face it speed is a gift. How you tap into it is the true test.”
Related Tweets:
Blessings!!!!!
— Marquis Teague (@marquisteague25)
October 24, 2014
Hahahahaha my bro @marquisteague25 on the squad. Let's get ittttttttttt
— Tone Wroten (@TWroten_LOE)
October 24, 2014
Image via Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
