Earlier this week, I finalized the entire NBA Free Agent list and what each team should do with their free agents. Now, I want to break them down by position. First up, we have NBA Free Agents point guards. Please note that I have omitted De’Aaron Fox from this list because it is obvious that the Kings will pick up his team option (or they should at least). If the Kings don’t pick up his option, you can slide him in at the #2 spot on our list.
#15 Gary Payton II
Gary Payton II (Age 27) PG: Stats: 3.9 PPG on 41.4% shooting, 1.7 APG, 2.8 RPG in 15 minutes per game. Contract: 1 Million
Gary Payton II at 15th for best PGs in free agency just further illuminates how weak this NBA Free Agents point guards class is. Still, although the stats don’t show it, Gary Payton II was playing better and receiving a bigger role with the Wizards. He’s still young enough to get better but his ceiling is a solid bench player.
#14 Brad Wanamaker
Brad Wanamaker (Age 31) PG (Restricted): Stats: 6.6 PPG on 42.8% shooting, 2.5 APG, 2 RPG in 19 minutes per game. Contract: 1.4 Million
I didn’t even know who this guy was before this year. Although, it is really not saying much as I have friends that are Celtics fans. Most of what I heard was negative about Brad Wanamaker. But playing 19 minutes a game, he can obviously play enough off the bench to help a team. The only problem is that he is probably not getting any better.
#13 Rajon Rondo
Rajan Rondo (Age 34) PG (Player Option): Stats: 7.1 PPG on 41.8% shooting, 5 APG, 3 RPG in 20 minutes per game. Contract: 2.6 Million
I bet you are surprised to see Rajon Rondo this low. The fact of the matter is that Rondo is just washed now. I loved watching Rondo, but watching him on the Lakers was just awful. He just can’t beat father time. Rajon Rondo does have incredible basketball IQ though. If he doesn’t go to a contender on a very small role, I can see him going to a rebuilding team to help mentor the young guards of the team. I expect him to sign for the league minimum somewhere.
#12 Michael Carter-Williams
Michael Carter-Williams (Age 28) PG: Stats: 7.2 PPG on 43.4% shooting, 2.4 APG, 3.3 RPG in 18 minutes per game. Contract: 2 Million
Michael Carter-Williams never panned out as the hyped-up player coming out of college. He has had some moments in his career where people got excited. Then, he would just disappear. Wildly enough, he is still only 28 and has time to get better, but time is running out. However, MCW has at least emerged as a solid bench player and could be the right asset on a team.
#11 Emmanuel Mudiay
Emmanuel Mudiay (Age 24) PG: Stats: 7.3 PPG on 47.1% shooting, 2.2 APG, 2.4 RPG in 15 minutes per game. Contract: 1.7 Million
Emmanuel Mudiay had plenty of hype coming from overseas after playing one year there. I would know because my best friend was a Nuggets fan and was uber excited about the Nuggets drafting him. That was 5 years ago filled with disappointment. While he has gotten better over the years, he is still super young. He is only 24 and has plenty of time before he hits his prime. His age should be enticing to teams and he might be a steal for a team. He’s been great guard depth for the Jazz and still has plenty of time to come into his own.
#10 Shabazz Napier
Shabazz Napier (Age 29) PG: Stats: 10.3 PPG on 43.1% shooting, 5 APG, 2.3 RPG in 24 minutes per game. Contract: 1.9 Million
Okay side-note, how cool is the name Shabazz?! Shabazz Napier has been in the league for a bit now, and the most you’ll get out of him is a solid backup PG. He’s not your first choice at a backup PG but he can still be a good pickup. That’s pretty much all he can offer you as a player. Teams that are looking for a backup guard will be looking at Shabazz.
#9 D.J. Augustin
D.J. Augustin (Age 32) PG: Stats: 10.4 PPG on 39.3% shooting, 4.6 APG, 2.2 RPG in 25 minutes per game. Contract: 7.25 Million
D.J. Augustin is a wildcard for me. I wasn’t sure where to put him. Partially it is my fault for not watching enough Magic basketball, but come on, Magic? Ew. He’s a little bit farther down this list because of his age. He had a poor shooting year and had only 10 PPG in 25 minutes for a veteran guard. It doesn’t really scream high ranking for me. D.J Augustin will be a good backup option for a couple of years, maybe starting on a bad team. That’s about it though. Expect a one or 2 year contract for D.J. max.
#8 Jeff Teague
Jeff Teague (Age 31) PG: Stats: 7.7 PPG on 41.2% shooting, 4 APG, 2.2 RPG in 21 minutes. Contract: 19 Million
I haven’t gave up on Jeff Teague, but by God, I am on the last straw. There’s gotta be a reason that the Wolves signed him for 19 million originally. This is the last year for him to show it though. I really don’t know what the market is like for Teague though. I know he probably won’t be signed for more than 10 million, hell, maybe only 5 million. Teague has a big year ahead of him to prove himself. Backup PG or a starter on the bad team is the prediction I have for Teague.
#7 De’Anthony Melton
DeâAnthony Melton (Age 22) PG (Restricted): Stats: 8.1 PPG on 41.9% shooting, 3 APG, 3.7 RPG in 19 minutes per game. Contract: 1.2 Million
I expect the market to be high for these next two years. Can you guess why? Go ahead, check his info I have listed above, I’ll wait…Jesus is it taking you that long? It’s his age! The Memphis Grizzlies have a scary good young core, that’s way ahead of schedule. The Grizzlies are already competing for playoff spots. The bad thing about having so much young talent is that you can’t keep them all.
That might be the case for De’Anthony Melton. He has a lot of potential and given his age, the market will be rich for him. The question is, although Melton is on a restricted contract, do the Grizzlies have enough cap to keep him? The Grizzlies don’t have a lot of cap this offseason, and someone offers more than what the Grizzlies can afford, they might have to reluctantly let Melton walk. The market will be huge for Melton, and the Grizzlies know it.
#6 Kris Dunn
Kris Dunn (Age 26) PG (Restricted): Stats: 7.3 PPG on 44.4% shooting, 3.4 APG, 3.6 RPG in 25 minutes per game. Contract: 4.3 Million
Kris Dunn hasn’t been bad, he just hasn’t been good. We’re waiting for him to take the next step and he just…hasn’t. He is on a restricted contract for the Bulls, but unfortunately, the Bulls have a predicament if Otto Porter Jr. opts-into his 26 million contract. The best thing the Bulls can do is find any trade partner they can for Otto. For Dunn, that might mean you have to move on to get more money and frankly, a better environment. Lauri Markkanen is ready to request a trade, it seems the best time to get out of Chicago is now. Who knows.
#5 Brandon Knight
Brandon Knight (Age 28) PG: Stats: 7 PPG on 38.3% shooting, 2.7 APG, 1.6 RPG in 18 minutes per game. Contract: 14 Million
Rounding out the top 5 of our NBA free agents point guards class is Brandon Knight. Even though Brandon Knight has been a bit of meme in the NBA after being dunked on by plenty of players and having his fair share of dumbass moments. Brandon Knight isn’t a terrible player he just hasn’t had the best career. He’s at 5 for me because I really do think he can still hoop. He just needs the right environment. He is still 28 and could get slightly better. I would love to see Brandon Knight on a good team as a bench player to learn and have some success. Man has had a career filled with bad moments, let him have some good ones.
#4 Goran Dragic
Goran Dragic (Age 34) PG: Stats: 16.1 PPG on 43.7% shooting, 5.1 APG, 3.1 RPG in 28 minutes per game. Contract: 17 Million
In theory, Goran Dragic could have been higher on this list, but due to his age, I decided to put him lower on this list. Dragic will probably be able to produce at this rate for only 1 or 2 more years. I wouldn’t pay 17 million for him though. I, personally, would try to sign him around 10-15 million at most, but I can see a team trying to sign him between 15-20 million.
#3 Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson (Age 30) PG : Stats: 12.8 PPG on 41.6% shooting, 4.4 APG, 2.9 RPG in 24 minutes per game. Contract: 734K
There’s not too much to comment on Reggie Jackson, due to the fact that he was injured most of the time this season. He can still hoop though. He is at 3rd for this list because of his track record and still being young enough to make a lot of production for his team. His contract is only at 734K because of going to the Clippers to try to win a ring. I can see around 12 million due to his injury history and 20 million to any desperate teams.
#2 Jordan Clarkson
Jordan Clarkson (Age 28) PG: Stats: 15.1 PPG on 48.2% shooting, 2 APG, 2.7 RPG in 24 minutes per game. Contract: 12.5 Million
The fact that Jordan Clarkson is #2 on this list shows that this free agency class for point guards is weak. However, Jordan Clarkson is still talented and will be one the most looked at point guards in this class. After an impressive showing with the Jazz this season, he’ll be a great asset to any team. He’ll probably look around a 15-20 million deal.
#1 Fred VanVleet
Fred VanVleet (Age 26) PG: Stats: 17.6 PPG on 40.9% shooting, 6.6 APG, 3.8 RPG in 36 minutes per game. Contract: 9 Million
Fred VanVleet should be one of, if not the most coveted guard this free agency and for sure out of our NBA free agents point guards. After an impressive playoff run in the 2019 playoffs and a good year to follow up with that, combined with his age, he’s the best to acquire this free agency. Luckily for the Raptors, they have some expiring contracts to have the money to keep Fred VanVleet. However, the market for VanVleet will be competitive and anything short of a max contract might not get it done for VanVleet. (*Cough Knicks Cough*)
