This season's NBA free-agent class is loaded with talent, especially at the point guard position. Here are the five best floor generals available.
The NBA offseason is slowly beginning. On Tuesday, the NBA Draft Combine will begin. At night, the draft lottery will be held, as well.
Twenty-six teams have been eliminated from contention and are already looking ahead to this summer. This year's free agent class includes some notable point guards, including former MVPs, All-Stars, and more.
Without further ado, let's take a look at the five best available free-agent point guards.
Best available NBA free agent point guards: 5. D'Angelo Russell
This was a tough call between D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson, who averaged a career-high 20.8 points per game this season, but I gave the slight edge to Russell.
Russell is an efficient scorer and complementary playmaker. This season, he is shooting 41.4 percent from 3, while converting 55.5 percent of his two-point attempts. He is also averaging 6.2 assists per game.
There are some defensive concerns here. Russell has never been known for his defensive presence, often ranking as one of the worst defenders in the league. But at times this season, he has been able to hold his own. If he can be an average defender, he holds immense value.
I do not expect the Los Angeles Lakers to let him walk after trading for him at the deadline. Russell has expressed interest in re-signing, as well. He told The Athletic's Sam Amick that he would "love" to stay with the Lakers.
Best available NBA free agent point guards: 4. Russell Westbrook
After being vilified by Laker fans, Russell Westbrook joined the Los Angeles Clippers, where he went on to be one of the most impactful two-way guards in the postseason.
Westbrook's swarming defense helped the Clippers contain both Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. With Westbrook as the primary defender, Booker shot 48.0 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3; that is a far cry from overall playoff numbers (58.5 from the field, 50.8 on 3-pointers). Meanwhile, he forced Durant to commit seven turnovers in only 20 minutes of defensive coverage.
On the offensive end, he was equally spectacular, averaging 23.6 points and 7.4 assists. He even shot a respectable 35.7 percent from 3.
Fit is everything for Westbrook. He needs to be surrounded by shooters and allowed to play through his rough scoring nights. On paper, the Clippers remain a perfect fit for him. With a need at point guard, he should continue to play heavy minutes, and he is capable of stepping up as the go-to guy in the potential absence of Kawhi Leonard and/or Paul George.
However, the Clippers only have his non-bird rights, so they can offer him up to 120 percent of the minimum salary. That is obviously below his market value.
What will Westbrook prioritize this offseason? Fit or money?
Best available NBA free agent point guards: 3. Fred VanVleet (player option)
Fred VanVleet is coming off a strange season, in which he shot a career-low 34.2 percent from 3. The shooting regression was surprising for the 2022 All-Star.
In addition, he was stuck on a team that was in limbo. The Toronto Raptors were clearly not title contenders. Subsequently, they explored moving VanVleet at the trade deadline. However, they could not find a deal.
According to Sports Illustrated's Farbod Esnaashari, the Raptors discussed a trade with the Clippers, and they asked for Terance Mann and a first-round pick. The Clippers were unwilling to meet that asking price.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks also explored a VanVleet trade.
The Raptors ended up holding onto VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby, and they missed the playoffs with a 41-41 record.
Entering the summer, VanVleet's market remains unclear. Do the Raptors want to re-sign him? Kicking off a rebuild seems like a distinct possibility. Given his value, he should command $30 million+ per season. The only team with cap space to offer him that deal is the Houston Rockets. Are they interested in VanVleet? They have also been connected to James Harden (more on that later).
Otherwise, will a contender pursue him in a sign-and-trade? The Clippers and Bucks could be incentivized to raise their offers following first-round playoff exits.
There are a lot of possibilities here. Regardless, VanVleet is an impact player. He will be one of the biggest dominoes to fall this offseason.
Best available free agent point guards: 2. James Harden (player option)
This season was a colossal disappointment for the Philadelphia 76ers. In the fallout, there could be a major roster shakeup, and James Harden is a potential piece of that.
Harden was heroic in Game 1 of the second round. He exploded for 45 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals, as he carried the Sixers to an upset victory without Embiid. However, he was a radically different player in Games 6 and 7, shooting a combined 7-of-27 from the floor.
Despite the elimination game struggles, Harden has shown a dedication to winning in Philadelphia. He shifted to a pass-first point guard role. The three-time scoring champion led the NBA with 10.7 assists per game, and he took 10.0 fewer field goal attempts per game than he did in 2018-19. Furthermore, he accepted a $15 million pay cut last summer to save cap space.
Nevertheless, his return is far from guaranteed. He is 33 years old and signing him to a max contract carries risk.
There is also a distinct possibility that Harden does not want to return. In December, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Harden is "seriously considering" returning to the Rockets this summer. In March, The Athletic's Sam Amick and Kelly Iko reported that the Rockets are "widely expected" to pursue Harden.
Harden returning to Houston appears shocking on the surface, but it makes sense the further you dive into it. On a personal level, he has expressed his love for the city. In 2022, he told Laura Schreffler of Haute Time that he still considers Houston "home". He has business ties in the city, as well. He is a part owner of the Houston Dynamo (MLS) and owns the downtown restaurant, Thirteen.
Heading into free agency, there appear to be only two realistic contenders in the Harden sweepstakes.
Best available NBA free agent point guards: 1. Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is one of the most controversial superstars in the NBA, but he is the clear No. 1 free agent point guard this summer. He is one of the most talented ball handlers and scorers in league history. Last season, he was arguably better than ever. He averaged 27.1 points, 5.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds. He knocked down a career-high 57.4 percent of two-point field goals and shot 37.9 percent from deep.
With Irving, the Dallas Mavericks went only 8-12, but blaming Irving is ludicrous. According to Cleaning the Glass, they were +14.3 points per 100 possessions better with Irving on the floor. The Mavericks were severely lacking depth, and losing Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith only accelerated that problem. This offseason, retaining Irving is an absolute necessity. Otherwise, it will become very difficult to build a playoff-level supporting cast around Luka Doncic.
Irving's unpredictable nature could make some teams wary, but remember, there was still plenty of activity surrounding him at the trade deadline. The Lakers, Clippers, and Suns are all teams to watch.
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