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Pacers' Teague feels Hawks peaked with 60-win season

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Atlanta Hawks had a great deal of success with Jeff Teague as the starting point guard, qualifying for the postseason every year he was on board and posting a franchise-best 60-win campaign in 2014-15.

However, managing only 48 victories and a second-round sweep courtesy of the Cleveland Cavaliers the following season represented the writing on the wall for Teague that perhaps the group had reached its maximum potential, and that it was all going to be downhill from there.

"It happens to every team," Teague said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore. "You can only go so far. You can only do so much. I think we reached our ceiling with me and Al and that group when we won those 60 games. We followed up and didn’t do as well the next year. We had a good season but we pretty much knew it was over."

Teague formally requested a trade from the organization after the 2015-16 season, telling the Hawks during his exit interview he wanted to get healthy over the summer after competing the entire year with a partially torn patella tendon. All signs were also pointing toward Dennis Schroder being the point guard of the future, which Teague couldn't help but take notice of.

The notion that there was any beef between the two, however, is something Teague can't seem to wrap his mind around.

"It’s not about me and Dennis," Teague said. "... I don’t know why people always make it like there is bad blood. I’m not even that type of guy. I want the best for everybody. I was happy when he got his extension. I saw him work hard every day to become a better player. He deserved it. I was happy when (Kent Bazemore) got his chance and his money. I love that team over there. I love those guys over there. I never wish bad on anybody or hope they don’t do well. I hope they all play great."

It was on July 7 when Atlanta went ahead with a three-team trade also involving the Indiana Pacers and Utah Jazz, sending Teague to his hometown to join forces with All-Star Paul George, while the Hawks received the No. 12 overall pick in the 2016 draft (Taurean Prince).

Indiana and Atlanta go head to head at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday night for the first time since the deal. Now settled in to his new home with his new teammates, Teague can still look back at his time in A-Town fondly and be appreciative of the opportunities they provided him.

"Having a chance to play for seven years, a lot of guys only play for three or four," Teague added. "Being in the organization for seven years and having some of the good times that I did, being an All-Star, playing with great players, a great group of guys, great coaches, I’m never going to forget that. It’s always going to be good memories, good vibes over there.”

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