2024 NBA Free Agents: Point Guards

Keith Smith
Keith Smith, Resident NBA ExpertMay 20, 2024
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© USA TODAY Sports

Spotrac’s Free Agent by Position Series

Point Guards   |   Shooting Guards   |   Small Forwards   |   Power Forwards   |   Centers

2024 NBA free agency is right around the corner. This isn’t considered to be a blockbuster free agent class, but there are several impact players available. In these rankings, we took a similar approach to the one many teams use when it comes to ranking available players. Each position was broken down into tiers. The tiers are:

  • All-Star: These aren’t all necessarily All-Stars, but they have the ability to be an All-Star
  • Starters: These players are either starters or they produce at a starter-level of impact
  • Rotation: These are solid players that should be in a team’s regular season rotation
  • Fringe: These are players at the end of the bench or Two-Way players largely in the G League

Players were then ranked within their tiers. All potential free agents have been ranked, including those with pending options.

ALL-STAR TIER

  1. Tyrese Maxey – Philadelphia 76ers (RFA)    
    Maxey is a free agent in name only. He's going to re-sign with Philadelphia on a five-year max deal worth either 25% and possibly up to 30% of the cap.

  2. James Harden – LA Clippers (UFA)
    Harden is very likely to re-sign with the Clippers. The questions are for how many years and how much money? He's still an offensive force, even if he's slipping. That keeps him in All-Star consideration and near the top of this list.

  3. Immanuel Quickley – Toronto Raptors (RFA) 
    If a cap space team wanted to offer Quickley a max contract, the Raptors might blink. Otherwise, Toronto will re-sign Quickley and install him as their point guard of the future. He was THE get in the OG Anunoby trade.

STARTER TIER

  1. D'Angelo Russell – Los Angeles Lakers (PLAYER)
    Russell is in an interesting spot. He's not going to be a top target for any of the cap space teams, but some of them could turn to him. He can score and pass. Put the right defense around him, and he's a solid starting point guard.

  2. Tyus Jones – Washington Wizards (UFA)
    Jones first year as a starter went pretty well. He put up career-highs nearly across the board. Jones is a low-end starter and a high-end backup. He'll have plenty of offers, should he choose to leave a starting job in Washington.

  3. Russell Westbrook – LA Clippers (PLAYER)
    We're closing in on the end for Westbrook, but we aren't there yet. He's best as a backup, but could still be a starter somewhere. He'll probably return to the Clippers, but he might try to find a bigger role elsewhere.

  4. Markelle Fultz – Orlando Magic (UFA)
    Fultz dealt with injuries again. He's abandoned any pretense of a three-point shot. But he does a nice job in the midrange game, and he's a solid defender. He'd be a low-end starter, but a pretty good backup, just not in Orlando.

  5. Kyle Lowry – Philadelphia 76ers (UFA)
    Lowry is squeezing all he can out of his career at this point. He seemed rejuvenated by landing at home in Philadelphia. Look for Lowry to return to the Sixers, likely on a minimum deal as a low-minutes starter or as Maxey's backup.

ROTATION TIER

  1. Monte Morris – Minnesota Timberwolves (UFA)
    This was a lost season for Morris. He wasn't healthy with Detroit and didn't carve out a real role with Minnesota. Still, he's one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. He'll have no problem finding a contract to fill that role.

  2. Jose Alvarado – New Orleans Pelicans (TEAM)
    Alvarado probably won't even hit free agency. The Pelicans are close enough to the tax line that picking up his option and dealing with free agency next summer is the way. He's a key backup for New Orleans, so he'll stick around.

  3. Patrick Beverley – Milwaukee Bucks (UFA)
    Beverley isn't the defender he once was. He's also hit the point where he's known as much for his antics as his play on the floor. But he can still hit shots and defend better than most. He'll get another minimum deal from someone.

  4. Spencer Dinwiddie – Los Angeles Lakers (UFA)
    Dinwiddie's stint with Lakers went about the same as his last couple of seasons have gone. He's become mostly a three-point shooter as he's aged. Someone will offer him a deal as a backup.

  5. Reggie Jackson – Denver Nuggets (PLAYER)
    Jackson will likely pick up his player option. He's not going to make that much anywhere else. He'll be back with Denver as a solid backup for Jamal Murray, or he'll be traded to fill a roster hole elsewhere.

  6. Kris Dunn – Utah Jazz (UFA)
    Dunn got his career on track with two good years in Utah. He's one of the better defensive lead guards in the game. More importantly, he's shot well for two seasons. Dunn should get a nice contract for a team looking for a third guard.

  7. Cameron Payne – Philadelphia 76ers (UFA)
    Payne is a fine backup point guard. You could do better, but you could do a whole lot worse. He'll have offers for the minimum from a lot of different teams. We'll see if anyone goes a little further to get him locked into their rotation.

  8. Dennis Smith Jr. – Brooklyn Nets (UFA)
    After almost washing out of the NBA, Smith has done a nice job getting his career going. He can't shoot, but he's learned to use his athleticism to get downhill and on defense. You could do a lot worse at backup point guard than Smith.

  9. Dalano Banton – Portland Trail Blazers (TEAM)
    Beware good stats on a bad team! But Banton has shown he can play before putting up numbers as Portland played out the string. As such, the Blazers will pick up his option to keep him around on a very friendly contract.

  10. Delon Wright – Portland Trail Blazers (UFA)
    Wright is in the journeyman stage of his career. He can still play, so he'll probably keep getting backup point guard jobs. But he's going to get part of the MLE or minimums from here on out. And that’s fine value for where Wright is at.

  11. Aaron Holiday – Houston Rockets (UFA)
    Holiday had a terrific season as a the backup point guard for the Rockets, which allowed the team to bring Amen Thompson along slowly. Holiday should get a deal to return, but this time as the third point guard in a deep guard group.

  12. Jordan McLaughlin – Minnesota Timberwolves (UFA)
    For whatever reason, McLaughlin hasn't every fully seized a rotation role. He's had one for moment, but never kept it. The offensive production is impressive, so someone might get a steal here for a minimum deal or a bit more.

FRINGE TIER (UNRANKED AND PRESENTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

  1. Amari Bailey – Charlotte Hornets (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Bailey was fine in the G League. He's got decent size for the position. In order to breakthrough in the NBA, he'll need to shoot it a lot better. He's likely headed back to the G League or overseas.

  2. J.D. Davison – Boston Celtics (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    In two years, Davison has seen minimum NBA run. He's an overwhelming athlete in the G League, and an much-improved playmaker. The challenge is that Davison can't shoot. Until that improves, he won't crack an NBA roster.

  3. Jeff Dowtin – Philadelphia 76ers (TEAM)
    Dowtin put together a nice run for the Sixers, after a bunch of other guys were injured. He also had a solid season in the G League. If he's not a cap space casualty, Dowtin would be back as deep bench depth on a friendly contract.

  4. Malachi Flynn – Detroit Pistons (RFA) 
    Flynn put up the most unlikely 50-point game in NBA history. But before and after that, there just hasn't been enough improvement. He's also 26 years old now. This is probably a third-guard on a minimum type of situation, at best.

  5. Jordan Ford – Sacramento Kings (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Ford's size works against him, but he shot it really well in the G League this season. He's still more scorer than playmaker, but there's potential there. Another G League season is likely in his future.

  6. Collin Gillespie – Denver Nuggets (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Gillespie got healthy, after missing his entire rookie season due to injury. He showed he can shoot and score. The Nuggets like him, so he may be back on the big roster as the third point guard.

  7. Jacob Gilyard – Brooklyn Nets (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Gilyard had quite the season for a two-way guy. He played a lot because Memphis was hit with so many injuries. Gilyard is tiny, but he can shoot from deep and he can run an offense. He'll be a third guard or on a two-way somewhere.

  8. Jordan Goodwin – Memphis Grizzlies (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Goodwin had every opportunity to breakthrough as an NBA guy last year, and he just didn't take it. He's got good size, but he shot terribly with both Phoenix and Memphis. Still, he showed enough previously to get another NBA shot.

  9. Ashton Hagans – Portland Trail Blazers (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Hagans was just ok in late-season minutes for Portland. He did a nice job in the G League though. Another two-way deal would be good for Hagans, even if he's now aged out of prospect status.

  10. Quenton Jackson – Indiana Pacers (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    If Jackson could shoot, he'd be a lot more interesting as a two-way guy. He's got terrific size for the position, he has a nice feel for the game and he's a competitive defender. But as a non-shooter, it's hard to see him making it in the NBA.

  11. Saben Lee – Phoenix Suns (UFA / TWO-WAY)
    Lee has taken it as far as he can as a two-way guy, as he's no longer eligible for a two-way deal. He's still more scorer than shooter or playmaker. That works against him. An overseas deal may be next up for Lee.

  12. Kira Lewis Jr. – Utah Jazz (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Despite initial promise in his rookie season, Lewis never really got there. As a former first-round pick, he'll need to rebuild his value in the G League or overseason. But he only need to look at teammate Kris Dunn to see the path.

  13. Skylar Mays – Los Angeles Lakers (UFA / TWO-WAY)
    Mays is too good for the G League, but not quite good enough to snag a full NBA roster spot. He's out of two-way eligibility, so it's a camp deal and battling for a spot, or heading overseas for a bigger deal and role.

  14. Patty Mills – Miami Heat (UFA)
    We might be at the end of the line for Mills, who has had a great career. He'll be 36 years old next season, so it's a minimum deal or nothing. Maybe a big summer with Australia could propel him for more, but it's unlikely.

  15. Daishen Nix – Minnesota Timberwolves (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Nix is tough, he's a pretty good scorer and an improving playmaker. He just can't shoot. On the plus side, he's only 22 years old. So, there's some potential left. He's only got one year of two-way eligibility remaining though.

  16. Trequavion Smith – Philadelphia 76ers (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Smith can fill it up as a scorer. He's only just started to figure out the playmaking part of being a point guard. At 21 years old, Smith would be perfect for another year on a two-way as a developmental player.

  17. Isaiah Thomas – Phoenix Suns (UFA)
    Thomas did well to battle back into the NBA. Now, who knows? He's 35 years old, he's still small and the athleticism is starting to wane. Maybe Thomas earned another look. If not, it's been one heck of a run.

  18. Duane Washington Jr. – New York Knicks (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Washington scores in bunches in the G League. He's had only limited NBA opportunities though, and he's now 24 years old. He could get another two-way deal or cash in with a big deal overseason.

  19. TyTy Washington Jr. – Milwaukee Bucks (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    As a former first-round pick, Washington has some cache that others in this range don't. The challenge is that he hasn't shown it in the NBA. He's likely back on another two-way deal somewhere next season.

  20. Brandon Williams – Dallas Mavericks (RFA / TWO-WAY) 
    Williams uses his athleticism to overwhelm players on the G League level to score. He's not a great shooter though. That, plus his lack of size, holds him back from breaking through with an NBA role.

2024 NBA Free Agent Trackers

All Positions |  Point Guards |  Shooting Guard  |  Small Forward  |  Power Forward  |  Center 


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