10 Worst free agent signings in Minnesota Timberwolves history

2. Jeff Teague

Number two on our list unfortunately represents the most egregious example in Timberwolves history of overpaying for an average player. After shipping Ricky Rubio to Utah in June 2017, Minnesota brought in their new starting point guard by inking Jeff Teague to a three-year, $57 million contract.

Entering his ninth year as a pro, Teague had shown a certain level of consistency by averaging at least 14 points and 5.9 assists in each of his previous five seasons, all while playing in 73 or more games per season. Minnesota saw his durability and ability as a serviceable distributor as their best option during that offseason.

Coming to Minnesota on the heels of Rubio’s departure, it is fair to say that Teague did not receive the warmest of welcomes from the Timberwolves’ fanbase, given how fond they had become of Rubio at the time. In this way, he probably faced a bit of unreasonable expectations.

But the flip side to this is that Teague was simply not that great a player in Minnesota. He was never the level of player that could be a co-star with Karl-Anthony Towns, and he certainly had his share of head-scratching moments. Many Timberwolves fans remember his frustrating post entry passes and his struggles in meshing with Towns on the court.

Put bluntly, Teague was just an okay point guard most nights for Minnesota, and he was rarely ever a game-changer. Signing a player like him is fine if you already have other pieces in place to be a contender. But handing him a payday as hefty as the Timberwolves did in 2017 was never an acceptable option, and a move like that can be what keeps your team in the miserable middle.