Atlanta Hawks: Jeff Teague looks forward to being ‘focal point’
Caught up with Jeff Teague at the Hawks’ youth basketball camp in Suwanee. As we were talking, some dude came up and expressed his dismay at the Hawks trading for Devin Harris and signing Louis Williams because he saw this as a threat to Teague’s playing time.
I smiled because the guy’s angst sounded familiar. It’s the same sentiment I hear all the time from my blog people, who tend to freak out whenever there’s a better-than-terrible guard on the roster who can play the point behind Teague.
Never mind that Teague ranked third on the team in minutes played per game last season and logged about 80 percent of the minutes at point guard, according to 82games.com. Forget that Teague remained the starter after Kirk Hinrich returned from injury last season. Set aside Danny Ferry’s statement that the Hawks “will be more of Jeff’s team than it has ever been.”
Like that dude who cornered Teague, my blog people think back to Teague’s history with Larry Drew and just know that he’s waiting to trap door Teague.
Teague does not have those same concerns.
“I was going to come in confident and ready to play,” he said. “I’m familiar with Coach Drew. I was ready. When the trade happened I saw it as an opportunity to step up and play even better. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Seriously, though, I don’t mean to dismiss my blog peoples’ concern over whether Teague will get more opportunities. You have good reasons to be a bit skeptical, not least of all the fact that Teague made another big jump in scoring efficiency last season but his usage actually decreased a bit.
Some of you blame Drew for that but, from my seat near Atlanta’s bench, I can tell you that Drew regularly barked “Go get it, Jeff!” when Josh Smith, Joe Johnson or Al Horford collected a rebound. Drew wanted the ball in Teague’s hands so the Hawks could play faster (at least until it became Joe’s show late in games).
Instead, Teague usually would stay on his side of the court and wait for the ball to come his way or make a halfhearted effort to convince his teammate to give up the rock. He’s got to demand the ball if it’s going to be his show.
“I’ve got to be more of a leader,” Teague said. “I looked to other guys last year like Joe and Marvin [Williams] and those guys. I feel like it’s my time to step up and be a leader along with Josh and Al and try to be that third guy.”
Perhaps 2012-13 will be the year when it all comes together for Teague. The organization gets behind him; Drew gives him more opportunities in the offense; Teague finally becomes more assertive, and the absence of Joe means there’s one less guy for Teague to defer to. At the very least, there should be more shots to go around.
Even Teague isn’t sure how the lineup is going to shake out, noting that the Hawks are “a lot smaller but a lot faster.”
He said he can envision Harris playing alongside him at two guard. The same goes for Louis Williams. Maybe it’s Josh at small forward with Zaza Pachulia at center (which would make for a small frontcourt off the bench unless Ferry adds another center). Or maybe it’s Kyle Korver at small forward with Harris or Anthony Morrow at shooting guard (but I still can’t shake the image of Teague shutting down Korver in the 2011 playoffs) .
Right now, the Hawks have an awfully small backcourt with three guys who like to work with the ball in their hand (though Harris did play off ball some in Utah). Teague said they can make it work.
“We all can score the basketball,” he said. “We don’t really have a big two right now. We have a lot of shooters but Joe was a big two. We are just going to have to do it all collectively with Joe and Al and [now] I feel like I can be an elite point guard.”
He’s got a long way to go to reach that level but he got better last season and there’s still room for growth.
Teague’s 3-point shooting was better until his percentages took a big dive over the final 25 games. It appeared Teague lost confidence in his 3-pointer when he started missing a few but he brushed it off.
“Everybody goes through a slump during the year,” he said. “Mine just happened to be at the end. Hopefully I can come back shooting even better and be more effective.”
Even when Teague was making 3-pointers, opponents defended him by going under screens. With that in mind, Teague said he’s focused on his mid-range J this summer, another aspect of his game that improved significantly last season.
Teague got to the basket frequently last season but didn’t finish strongly or draw a high rate of fouls when he got there.
“I can’t do anything about fouls,” he said, smiling. “Finishing on layups, that’s on me. I can go in there and dunk the basketball. I could just take it right to the rim but I shot floaters because I thought guys could come over and block it.”
Teague also will have to be sharper defensively on screen-rolls. He went through periods where he seemed to be nonchalant about fighting through screens.
That’s reflected by the 0.8 points per possession posted by opposing pick-and-roll ballhandlers, a number that ranked 117th in the league according to Synergy Sports Technology. Also notice that Teague’s opposing PER is a pedestrian 16.2 in spite of an effective field-goal percentage allowed of just 47.3–those 17.5 field goal attempts and 9.6 assists per 48 minutes stand out. A player with Teague’s physical skills can do better.
Teague said he only recently got a chance to meet with Ferry because of the GM’s busy schedule and Teague’s two-week trip to China for an NBA outreach program. Teague said Ferry’s a “smart guy” with a plan that includes Teague as a major piece.
“He told me he was looking forward to working with me and he really liked my game,” Teague said. “He didn’t know how the trade and stuff would go but he knew I was going to be a focal point.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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297 comments Add your comment
Ra'mon
August 3rd, 2012
2:09 am
But would Zaza, Ivan, and Blatche co-exist in the locker room?
Slim
August 3rd, 2012
3:10 am
Why is everybody hating on Teague, I thought he played well considering the lock out. He was the third best player on the team, and still getting better. D Harris will not start.
Slim
August 3rd, 2012
3:12 am
I like blatche, just don’t know if he has his head on straight.
steven a smith
August 3rd, 2012
7:06 am
You guys are “stealing” my ideas.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
August 3rd, 2012
12:55 am
Teague
Devin Harris
Smoove
Horford
Blatche
steven a smith
August 3rd, 2012
7:06 am
You guys are “stealing” my ideas.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
August 3rd, 2012
12:55 am
Teague
Devin Harris
Smoove
Horford
Blatche
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
9:10 am
Let’s bring in every boneheaded athletic player who gets kicked off his former team. We could become the Raiders of the NBA… taking the players no one else wants. And we can clearly see how well that has worked for the Raiders in the past 20 years.
O'Brien
August 3rd, 2012
9:32 am
AJ,
The Raiders themselves had issues from the top down, so that is a bad example (imo). How many boneheaded players did the Patriots sign over the years, and didn’t it worked for them sometimes (even if only temporarily).
I would bring Blatche in, because he is a low risk, high reward signing if the price is right (imo). If he doesn’t work out, then cut him. But if the change of scenery and culture does him well, he would be a solid contributor off the bench for us.
O'Brien
August 3rd, 2012
9:36 am
Ra’mon,
I don’t see Minny moving Kevin Love considering he just signed an extension. I would check back with them in 2 years.
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
9:44 am
OB, deo you mean the multiple championship Patriots with a top 5 head coach in NFL history? Those Patriots?
And how many minutes are you giving Blatche (won’t he need at least 15 minutes/game to make a meaningful contribution off the bench)? I don’t recall too many teams that play 5 bigs consistently. So what is Blatche bringing to the team that is better than what Zaza or Ivan would bring (or is someone suggesting bltache should take some minutes from Al or push Josh to SF for more minutes shooting perimeter shots)?
Come one folk… I want a project big but I’m thinking about someone who will spend the bulk of time learning in practice (like Keith Benson or a big defense-first center). Again, play it out, 96 minutes at PF/C… whose minutes get cut because we’re doing socialology experiemtns with Blatche… Josh, Al, Ivan or Zaza? And would you rather have him rehabilitating his work ethic with us or would you rather give those token left over minutes to a young player who is still learning his craft?
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
10:05 am
Astro,
The Raiders have won Superbowls with those same bonehead player you mention… Also, as much flak that the Raiders get, they have gone to the Superbowl almost once per decade.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
10:09 am
Ivan got suspended last year, according to the NBA TV broadcast team, because he jumped on the whole team for their lack of effort in a humiliating loss to the Raptors. Lazy writers who don’t make the effort to report facts have helped paint Ivan as this unstable individual. The fact is that he REALLY cares about winning, and he saw a team that was getting dusted by a lottery team because they weren’t trying.
Assuming the Hawks retain Ivan, you want to bring sorry ass Blatche in here to split backup power forward minutes with Ivan? Are you smoking crack?
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
10:11 am
Astro,
May the best player, play. Blatche has put up better averages than ZaZa or Ivan. If we can get Blatche to contribute major production off the bench then that would make ZaZa expendable and Ivan can continue to ride the pine and play when needed. Besides, it’s better to have quality depth just in case of injuries. See the Al Horford 2011-12 season as prime example.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
10:12 am
Look at it this way. The Hawks have the deepest depth chart in the NBA at power forward. We have Smith, Horford, Pachulia and Ivan Johnson who are starting-caliber at the position. No other team has that. And you want to bring locker room poison onto this roster why? What’s the need you’re trying to fill here?
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
10:13 am
“Blatche has put up better averages than ZaZa or Ivan.”
ON A LOTTERY TEAM THAT HAS NEVER SNIFFED THE PLAYOFFS. MELVIN IF YOU DON’T GET HELP AT CHARTER, PLEASE GET HELP SOMEWHERE!!!!!!
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
10:17 am
Considering the money the same, I would rather have Blatche over Benson, Diamp, Collins and Ivan. Although I like Ivan, Blatche is far more talented then all those guys.
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
10:18 am
Buddy,
Are you saying Blatche was not apart of the Wizard teams that battle Lebron’s Cavs in the playoffs?
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
10:25 am
Melvin, you see the upside to every athletic player and don’t EVER seem to factor things like work ethic or maturity. Blatche isn’t better than Zaza and doesn’t bring the toughness this team lacks without Ivan on the floor. He should try to rehab himself on someone else’s dime. My guess, he is a very, very ordinary player who has a massive ego and serious maturity issues. We should want to add that to our team?
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
10:31 am
“When did LD encourage Josh to run the fast break? This is the 2nd time I’ve read that today.”
soullrenaissance is correct:
http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2012/05/08/celtics-at-atlanta-hawks-game-5-game-thread/
As quoted by Michael Cunningham: Drew on pushing the pace with this lineup: “When we are at our best is when [Al] and Josh rebound the ball and bring it out on the dribble.”
“Lou Williams can play shooting guard, something that Teague can not do” – Pedro El Gitano
On the contrary, Teague can play shooting guard and SHOULD play shooting guard when he is on the floor with Lou Williams. Lou is a better passer, playmaker and is better at taking care of the ball.
“Way deeper team than people think also.”
Co-sign. Sund was bragging about a bench that featured Stack, Damp, Collins, Green, Pargo and Vlad, all of whom were easily among the 100 worst players in the NBA last season? Bench is VASTLY improved this year.
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
10:34 am
Melvin, Blatche was avergaing 20 minutes/game the last time the Wizards were in the playoffs (and winning around 42 games and losing in the first round of the playoffs).
Collins is gone. Damp was a designated 4th string center who only played every 5th game (if that often).
I’d rather have Kenyon Martin, Jamal Maglorie, Anthony Tolliver or Chris Anderson. But mostly, I wan Ivan to get 12-18 minutes each and every game.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
10:34 am
If Blatche is with us it’ll be a 1-year contract and he’ll be on his best behavior. If he improves then Pawn him off on the team that wants to overpay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzT4QH7UsAo
He gives us someone who can finish off 2 feet on a pick and roll. Cool. look I just want to beat the Celtics this year. And the Bulls, and the 76ers. I’m tired of getting punked by Kevin Garnett. He has 2 moves at this point, long range jumper and post up turnaround jumper. It’s embarassing.
Get Blatche for Hawes and he can help guard Boozer or Noah or the backup big men. etc etc.
He’s almost out of the league and he’ll have to be on his Sunday’s best behavior if he wants to stay.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
10:37 am
Oh my bad… I forgot Blatche averaged 10 minutes per game in the 08 playoffs. You’re right I’m convinced. Sign him up. Offer him a truckload of Twinkies as a signing bonus, I’m sure he’ll sign.
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
10:42 am
Blatche avg a career best 16.8 pts and 8.3 rebs (Josh type numbers) in the 2010-11 season. Last season 2011-12 was the first season he didn’t increase his production from the previous season. To say that ZaZa and Ivan is better than him is laughable to me.
I understand he wore out his welcome in DC but who’s to say he hasn’t mature and ready get his career back on track. He would bring size and a skill set that none of the bigs on the current roster has. A 2 year contract with a team option for year two will allow him time to prove that he belongs in the Hawks future plans. If not, he can hit the road after this season and the Hawks will not lose any financial flexibility for 2013-14.
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
10:47 am
Astro,
All those guys you name are washed up except for Tolliver and he’s (soft and) not that good. Blatche is entering the prime of his career. Considering money the same (and there’s reports that Kenyon wants more than the vet min), give me Blatche.
BK
August 3rd, 2012
10:49 am
WE NEED A TRUE BIG TIME CENTER, WITH THE PEICES WE HAVE WE COULD REALLY GO DEEP IN THE PLAYOFFS.. WHY NO REAL TALK ABOUT THE HAWKS GETTING A REAL BIG MAN EVER..
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
10:56 am
BK,
You missed the countless blogs of us disscussing how the Hawks can acquire Dwight Howard. Unless you don’t consider him a real big man.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
August 3rd, 2012
10:57 am
Blatche is better than Benson
Blatche is better than Dampier
Blatche is better than Petro
Blatche is better than Jordan Williams
Blatche is our best option for a backup or starting center behind Zaza since Horford wants to play PF.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:02 am
Buddy thanks for the link.
——-
Drew on pushing the pace with this lineup: “When we are at our best is when [Al] and Josh rebound the ball and bring it out on the dribble. We’ve been missing that with him out of the lineup. It makes us a much better running team when we have all five guys involved in the break.”
——-
smh Drew
Drew on the benefits of the lineup for Joe: “He’s had to defend Paul [Pierce] all four games. I kind of want to give it a different look and see if that can generate more offense out of him. He’s been chasing Paul around for four games and that can put a little wear and tear on you. We’ve decided to give it a look.”
—–
Where was that thinking when Josh and Horford were getting torn up by KG. Where was the big lineup?!
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
11:05 am
“To say that ZaZa and Ivan is better than him is laughable to me.”
Zaza and Ivan didn’t get amnestied then have not one single team in the league offer even the veteran’s minimum to claim them off waivers. That’s what happened to Blatch. Not one single team thought he was worth the minimum bid. That’s great that Blatche had a nice season on a lottery team. That kind of thinking got us Abdur Rahim for Pau Gasol. Glad you’re not Hawks GM. NOT A SINGLE NBA GM THOUGHT BLATCHE WAS WORTH THE MINIMUM BID.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:06 am
” The Hawks have the deepest depth chart in the NBA at power forward. We have Smith, Horford, Pachulia and Ivan Johnson who are starting-caliber at the position. ”
What? Then who’s playing center? Come on now, thats not depth that just flashing names
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
Melvin, Blatche might help a fantasy team but he won;t do anything for a team that is hoping to win more than lose. None of the guys I mentioned were paid to walk away from a losing team, either.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
Good info Sir Grizzard. Blatche should be available and on his best behavior. And on a non-guaranteed for that matter. A lot of teams have young project PFs looking for a payday. And Blatche is older yet still looking for the next big contract.
Could be a win win if he improves on a cheap contract. He advertises over here for his last chance and good chunk of minutes. And there’ll be games he doesn’t play much. So he could be mature showing the ability to stay in shape and be ready.
“Zaza and Ivan didn’t get amnestied then have not one single team in the league offer even the veteran’s minimum to claim them off waivers. That’s what happened to Blatch. Not one single team thought he was worth the minimum bid. That’s great that Blatche had a nice season on a lottery team. That kind of thinking got us Abdur Rahim for Pau Gasol. Glad you’re not Hawks GM. NOT A SINGLE NBA GM THOUGHT BLATCHE WAS WORTH THE MINIMUM BID.”
O'Brien
August 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
AJ,
Blatche has his issues. But if he plays anything close to his potential, he is better than Ivan imo (and I’m a big fan of Ivan). Plus Ivan is 6’8”, whereas Blatche is closer to 6’11”, so he also gives us more size.
I still want Zaza as my backup center, but I would let Ivan and Blatche compete for the backup PF minutes. May the best man win.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:20 am
Josh on Pierce
Horford on Bass
Blatche on Garnett
That’s actually not bad if Josh stays athletic and Pierce keeps aging Josh can shut him down. And Blatche has the size to help on Garnett whereas Marvin did not.
Blatche: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_RYdNi8FiY
Melvin
August 3rd, 2012
11:23 am
So I guess Luis Scola and Elton Brand are a bad players b/c they got amnestied. Add Bullips to that list as well b/c the Knicks got rid of him.
The Free Agency period is not over yet, so Blatche has time to sign with another team.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:29 am
But Melvin, after you’re waived, teams under the cap limit get to bid on players. Only no one bid on Blatche, which is why we have a chance, we’re over the cap limit and so we get last dibs.
Scola got claimed by PHO, Brand by DAL, and last year Chauncey by LAC when we had Joe’s $$ on the books. We get last dibs and no one claimed Blatche so he “cleared waivers”. Sounds good like he past a test but its actually kind of bad.
—
So I guess Luis Scola and Elton Brand are a bad players b/c they got amnestied. Add Bullips to that list as well b/c the Knicks got rid of him.
The Free Agency period is not over yet, so Blatche has time to sign with another team.
Mike is Back
August 3rd, 2012
11:32 am
Melvin , I have some of the same concerns about Blatche…however you’ve convince me that if we can get this guy at the Vet Min…that it’s more than worth the risk. I remember another bone head guy that left the WIZ and went to Denver…a change of scenery appears to have done wonders for him…who’s to say the same can’t happen for Blatche.
hawksfancents95
August 3rd, 2012
11:36 am
lets move past this blatche talk, hes not gona be a hawk.
he was good a few years back but he’s just not a winner, GM DF will not tolerate that mentality and neither should any TRUE hawk fan.
The hawks are going to surprise a lot of people in atl and around the country this year. they’ll be a 5-7 seed and will be a lot of fun to watch. weare going to be as good as last year but in different ways for better and for worse. at least we got two 1st rounders and cap space galore.
still lookin for us to sign Greg Oden and Dominic McGuire(DMac)
darrell starks
August 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
I see a lot of people saying bring Zaza of the bench, you guys must have forgot about what he done last year when Horford was injured, he deserve to be the Hawks starting center.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
“What? Then who’s playing center? Come on now, thats not depth that just flashing names”
We have 4 guys that could start at power forward. That’s depth.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
Ivan Johnson is passionate about winning basketball games.
Andray Blatche is passionate about Twinkies.
darrell starks
August 3rd, 2012
11:39 am
Pointguardslim, Zaza should be the Hawks number one center
Josh, Horford, Zaza with Blatche coming of the bench make more sense.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
August 3rd, 2012
11:46 am
OB, “if”. Is there a player under 28 who doesn’t have an “if”? Again, let’s get Hassan Whiteside, Rashard McCants, Audray Blatche, Solomon Alabi, Al Thornton and Krylo Fesenko. And then we can spend the next few months evaluating the “ifs”. Boy, that sounds like big fun.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
11:49 am
“So I guess Luis Scola and Elton Brand are a bad players b/c they got amnestied.”
Both got claimed off amnesty waivers. In Scola’s case, because of the structure of his contract, the minimum bid was $10 million. He still got claimed. Blatche did not get claimed.
I don’t deny the guy has talent, I just don’t want him in our locker room when he’s not committed to making the playoffs, much less advancing in the playoffs. Blatche should be on the phone with Josh asking for conditioning and weight loss tips.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
11:57 am
If Zaza starts at power forward then who is the center? That makes no sense.
Josh-Ivan-Horford
Zaza-Petro
If Zaza goes down then you have to start Petro with no-size backups. That makes no sense.
Josh-Ivan-Horford
Zaza-Blatche-Petro
Now that’s depth and you can go big and bully or stay small (and get bullied).
The Hawks were so deep they had to resort to playing Marvin Williams at C.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRjHcPmrPzw
And deservingly got booted in the 1st round. What happens if our small lineup gets injured again? Korver at C?
O'Brien
August 3rd, 2012
11:58 am
And correct me if I’m wrong, but didnt Ivan play minutes at SF in the D-League? Maybe he could get some minutes at backup SF from the Hawks too.
pointguardslim
August 3rd, 2012
12:02 pm
Grizzard Blatche showing up in a Hawks uniform means he’s showing up in shape and is on his best behavior or gets booted. And on a 1 year lease.
That goes without saying. He’s almost out of the league and if he wants to stay then he has to prove it. Just look at McGee in the Nuggets. Blatche is probably not resigning, but if he’s going to be committed to try and earn more then take him on for this 1 year. If not then cut him.
SteveW
August 3rd, 2012
12:13 pm
Blatche is a good ball player. Just not sure how he fits on this team. Josh, Al, Ivan already at PF – Jordan Williams looks like he’s sticking for now also – another PF – and we drafted a PF named Mike Scott – looks like they may want to keep him. Kito Benson plays some PF also, if we keep him.
Now if we decided to start ZaZa, and have Blatche and Petro fight for minutes at backup C, that I could see.
I’m not against that.
As far as Small Forwards go, of the guys who are left:
Delfino 6-6 230
Josh Howard – 6-7
Micheal Pietrus – 6-6
Matt Barnes – 6-8
Tracy Mcgrady – 6-8
Alonzo Gee – 6-6
Dominic McGuire – 6-9
Josh Childress – 6-8
Shawne Williams – 6-9
Ryan Gomes – 6-7
Damion James – 6-7
Damien Wilkens – 6-6
Jamario Moon – 6-8
Or some other guys who could possibly play the 3:
Kenyon Martin – 6-9
Anthony Tolliver – 6-8
Marquis Daniels – 6-6
Micheal Redd – 6-6
Sam Young – 6-6
Manny Harris – 6-6
DeAndre Liggins – 6-6
Xavier Silas 6-5
We probably only have enough room to sign 1 of these guys, if any – Who do you sign? All are still available last I checked.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
12:14 pm
“If Zaza starts at power forward then who is the center?”
I didn’t say Zaza WOULD start or SHOULD start at PF, merely that he COULD start at PF for a lot of teams. But seriously, who is the center? Ever heard of All-NBA?
SteveW
August 3rd, 2012
12:17 pm
Of course Al plays C most of the time to this point – and Ivan plays some C, or has.
Josh did well at C last season at well when forced there due to injuries to others etc.
I say out of all those guys at SF – Micheal Redd has the highest 1 season upside. But he could also be a complete bust also.
If I’m going to get somebody to be here a while – I like Alonzo Gee.
But alot of those names on that list are intriguing possibilities. There’s probably at least 5 or 6 guys who could realistically contribute to the Hawks this season in various ways.
Buddy Grizzard
August 3rd, 2012
12:18 pm
“Blatche showing up in a Hawks uniform means he’s showing up in shape and is on his best behavior or gets booted.”
This is what it all comes down to. Blatche has got to get in shape and prove his commitment. Once he does that, a lot of teams will be interested in his services. I just don’t want the Hawks locker room to be a rehab ward for guys like Blatche who haven’t proven that they care about winning. If he shows up in DF’s office in Josh Smith shape and says he will sign for the minimum and doesn’t care about minutes, he just wants to play for a winner and be a good teammate, then you consider it.