Top 10 Free Agent Point Guards

The 2019 Free Agent Point Guard class is loaded with talent.  Point Guard is not necessarily a position of need for the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Dončić and Jalen Brunson on the roster, but that doesn’t really matter if you have the chance to land some of the studs that will be available this summer.  What the Mavericks are in short supply of is defensive guards.  Guys that can put pressure on opposing ball handlers and disrupt the offensive flow for opponents.  Luckily for the Mavericks, you will also find a few defensive stoppers on this list as well.

Other Free Agent Articles

Everything You Need to Know About Mavs Free Agency – detailed information on Mavs future contracts, cap space, and restricted free agents.

Top 10 Free Agent Centers

Top 10 Free Agent Power Forwards

Top 10 Free Agent Small Forwards

Top 10 Free Agent Shooting Guards

Top 10 Free Agent Point Guards

Top 10 Potential 2019 Free Agent Point Guards

RFA – Restricted Free Agent
UFA – Unrestricted Free Agent
PO – Player Option
TO – Team Option
Career Earnings – Money earned by NBA salary through the 2018-2019 season, does not include 2019 Option amount.

1. Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics

Type Age  2018 Salary  Career Earnings  2019 Option
PO 26 $20.1 M $94.7 M $21.3 M
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 55 32.8 50% 42% 87% 4.9 6.9 1.5 0.5 2.6 23.5
Career 496 33.8 47% 39% 88% 3.6 5.6 1.3 0.3 2.6 22.2

2012 Rookie of the Year, 6x All-Star, NBA Champion, Kyrie Irving has racked up some impressive achievements in his first 7 years in the league, including what may be the biggest shot in NBA Finals history  He has some of the sickest handles EVER and finishes off the glass like few others even think about.  An absolute assassin that can get buckets any way he wants or can set up teammates for easy scores.  This guy is an absolute game-changer.

Remember, he has never signed a contract with Boston, he was traded after telling Cavs management that he wanted out after they lost in the 2017 NBA Finals.  The Celtics are a winning organization loaded with young assets and a top tier head coach so it would be surprising to see Kyrie move on from Boston.  As with every big free agent, there are rumors he wants to try to be the one to bring championship basketball back to New York, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
11/16 TOR 69% 3 50% 67% 2 11 3 1 3 43 39
1/18 MEM 67% 4 67% 67% 7 11 0 1 3 38 34.4
2/23 CHI 58% 3 50% 100% 5 10 1 1 2 37 33.2
11/5 DEN 77% 4 67% 100% 5 5 3 1 2 31 30.6
11/8 PHO 46% 6 46% 100% 7 6 3 1 3 39 30.4

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

 

2. Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
UFA 29 $12 M $58.7 M N/A
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 66 34.8 43% 35% 83% 4.2 5.8 1.3 0.4 2.6 24.9
Career 589 34 42% 36% 83% 3.8 5.4 1.3 0.4 2.2 19.6

If anyone should try to revive New York basketball it should be this Bronx point guard who is just too quick and too tough that its unfair.  Madison Square Garden would love his mix of lighting quick crossovers, step back jumpers, and acrobatic finishes that make even the best defenders look pathetic.

We know he is a big time clutch player from his unbelievable run at UConn to win 11 straight games and the National Championship in 2011.  He showed he still has the ability to go next level by his 60 point performance on November 17, 2018 in a loss against the 76ers.  Kemba is off to a ridiculous start this year, 13th in the entire NBA in scoring and playing his heart out every night for a Hornets team who second best player is…umm…Jeremy Lamb? Batum? Tony Parker? He has only been in the league for 7 seasons but he is already the all-time leading scorer in Charlotte Hornets history.  I, for one, hope that Kemba takes this chance to get out of Charlotte and head somewhere that he can can have a real chance to compete and advance in the playoffs where he is at his best.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
11/17 PHI 62% 6 43% 100% 7 4 4 0 9 60 43.7
12/29 WAS 62% 6 67% 63% 4 4 1 1 1 47 37
2/2 CHI 44% 4 44% 93% 6 10 1 0 0 37 33.5
11/19 BOS 56% 7 54% 89% 4 5 1 0 4 43 31.6
2/5 LAC 48% 5 50% 100% 5 9 3 0 0 32 31.1

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

3. D’Angelo Russell, Brooklyn Nets

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
RFA 23 $7M $23 M N/A
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 67 30 43% 37% 81% 3.6 6.8 1.1 0.3 2.9 20.4
Career 258 28.4 42% 35% 77% 3.6 4.9 1.1 0.2 2.8 16.1

Russell was a curious case coming into this season. The number two overall pick in 2015, D’Angelo Russell was a very exciting prospect, he looked like a big point guard with next level scoring and passing skills and self-proclaimed ice in his veins when the game is on the line. He was shunned from the Lakers for recording teammate Nick Young’s conversation, outing him for his infidelity to then fiancé and pop/hip hop artist Iggy Azalea.  This fractured his respect with teammates to the point that the Lakers traded Russell just to offload the terrible Mozgov contract.

This season D’Angelo Russell changed the narrative in a big way.  He is setting career best numbers across the board to a level that earned him 2019 All-Star status, and at only 23 years old, Russell is still a basketball baby.  His 3 point shooting has improved to a very respectable 37% and once defenders close out he gets deep into the lane to kick out to open shooters or finish himself with a great running floater.  It took a few years but D’Angelo Russell has figured it out and is in line for a big payday this summer.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
1/18 ORL 64% 8 67% 2 7 1 0 1 40 34.4
11/25 PHI 57% 2 33% 100% 8 8 0 1 1 38 32.9
12/16 ATL 68% 5 56% 100% 6 7 2 0 0 32 32.2
2/23 CHO 45% 6 40% 100% 1 7 2 1 4 40 27.4
1/21 SAC 48% 7 50% 4 8 1 1 0 31 27.2

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

 

4. Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee Bucks

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
RFA 26 $1.5 M $3.8 M N/A
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 61 29.2 51% 44% 93% 4.7 3.3 0.7 0.2 1.4 16
Career 184 28.3 49% 41% 90% 3.6 3.6 0.9 0.2 1.4 12.9

Second round draft pick, Malcolm Brogdon, won the 2017 Rookie of the Year award averaging 10 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds per game (a far cry from the 21, 7, and 6 that Luka is averaging in his rookie campaign) as a 24 year old rookie out of Virginia.  He is a big 6’5″ point guard who is a good defender and very efficient from the field.

Brogdon is averaging 30 minutes per game on the best team in the entire league, 3rd on the team behind Giannis and Middleton.  He is not known as being a big playmaker, maybe just because he doesn’t have to be, 4th on the team in assists per game at 3.3 per game.  However Brogdon does a great job of getting in the lane to get the offense started and has turned into an elite efficient shooter from everywhere on the floor.

With the Bucks giving Eric Bledsoe a 4yr/$70M extension this month and also having free agents Khris Middelton, Nikola Mirotic, and Brook Lopez to deal with, money might begin to get right in Milwaukee.  If that is the case I think the Mavericks would be very interested in adding Brogdon’s all-around game to the core of Luka Dončić and Kristaps Porzingis.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
2/27 SAC 82% 4 67% 100% 5 2 0 0 0 25 23.4
11/23 PHO 80% 3 100% 100% 3 4 1 0 0 22 23.3
11/28 CHI 73% 6 100% 100% 5 6 0 1 2 24 22.3
12/1 NYK 75% 4 80% 6 4 1 0 2 22 20
1/9 HOU 75% 0 0% 100% 5 3 1 0 3 24 19.6

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

 

5. Goran Dragić, Miami Heat

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
PO 32 $18.1 M $95.9 M $19.2 M
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 19 26.7 42% 33% 81% 2.7 4.2 0.6 0.2 2.2 15.1
Career 741 28 47% 36% 76% 3 4.8 1 0.2 2.3 13.8

Dragić was one of the most underrated players in the league for years until finally being voted to the NBA All-Star Game in 2018.  2014 Most Improved Player and 2014 All-NBA, Dragić has not racked up a whole lot of NBA achievements in his 11 season, he does not have a very flashy game but he is relentless and effective.

Dragić and Luka Dončić led the Slovenian National team to a 2017 EuroBasket title in which Dragić was named tournament MVP.  It cannot be overlooked how well he and Luka played together, and how much he respects Luka’s greatness and wants to see him succeed.  Although point guard is a position where the Mavericks are pretty deep, adding Luka’s fellow countryman could potentially be a great move in Luka’s development as an NBA superstar.

He has a big player option next season so it would take more money than the Mavericks would be willing to spend in order to beat that number.  Maybe Dragić will want to play with Luka so badly that he will opt out and come to Dallas or perhaps this would be an opportunity for the Mavericks to use their huge Trade Exception from the Harrison Barnes trade to make something happen.

But seriously, can we re-take his picture??

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
10/27 POR 53% 4 44% 80% 3 5 0 0 2 28 20.3
2/28 HOU 42% 3 50% 100% 5 5 1 0 0 21 20.2
2/27 GSW 64% 4 57% 100% 3 1 0 0 2 27 19.3
10/17 ORL 64% 3 43% 71% 4 4 0 1 3 26 18.7
11/12 PHI 53% 1 25% 71% 3 5 2 1 2 22 17.4

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

6. Derrick Rose, Minnesota Timberwolves

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
UFA 30 $2.2 M $121.4 M N/A
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 50 27.7 48% 37% 86% 2.8 4.4 0.6 0.2 1.6 18.3
Career 545 33.2 45% 30% 82% 3.5 5.6 0.8 0.3 2.7 18.9

Derrick Rose was the youngest MVP in league history at age 22 when he averaged 27 points, 7.7 assists, and 4 rebounds per game for the 1st place Chicago Bulls in 2012. Several knee injuries later, Rose has lost a lot of his explosiveness and was considered an afterthought in the NBA. But in one of the best redemption stories D-Rose has rejuvenated himself in a big way.

Back with his old Coach, Tom Thibodeau, in Minnesota, Rose has carved out a nice leadership role with the young Wolves. As backup to Jeff Teague, Rose proved he is still a force to be reckoned with in the NBA with his 50 point outburst early this season against the tough Utah Jazz defense. He has changed his game from the epic quickness, explosive, above the rim style to a more jump shot, crafty-finisher type attack. Now averaging a very efficient 18 points per game, with a measurable improvement in his 3 point shot this has been a big year for Rose leading up to free agency, but one thing is for sure, D-Rose isn’t done.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
10/31 UTA 61% 4 57% 73% 4 6 1 1 6 50 34.2
11/7 LAL 65% 7 78% 100% 3 5 0 0 4 31 23.9
12/19 DET 48% 1 25% 100% 3 7 1 0 2 33 21.9
12/26 CHI 58% 1 20% 100% 3 8 2 0 2 24 21.6
10/20 DAL 52% 2 40% 67% 5 5 2 1 3 28 21.2

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

7. Patrick Beverley, LA Clippers

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
UFA 30 $5 M $25 M N/A
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 67 27.3 40% 39% 78% 5.1 3.7 0.9 0.6 1.1 7.4
Career 369 28.3 41% 38% 77% 4.3 3.4 1.2 0.4 1.3 9

Patrick Beverley was drafted 42nd overall out of Arkansas in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers.  Failing to find himself on the roster, Beverley was forced to head overseas for 3 and a half years playing in Ukraine, Greece and Russia.  He finally found a place with the Houston Rockets in January of 2013 and the NBA hasn’t been the same since.

Beverley is a defensive menace in every sense of the word.  He wears out opponents mentally and physically while providing efficient 3 point shooting and incredible energy.  Defensive guards being an area of need for the Mavericks makes Beverley a serious option this summer.  Beverley would be able to put pressure on opposing offenses the way Luka puts pressure on opposing defenses.  I think it would also help to have Beverley around to make sure anyone trying to mess with Luka has to deal with him first.

If the Mavericks sign Patrick Beverley the first thing we need to do is broker peace between him and Mavericks super-fan Don Knobler after their incident on December 2nd in the American Airlines Center where Beverley was ejected and Knobler was banned from the AAC for the remainder of the season.  Beverley is the kind of guy you hate as an opponent but love as part of your team, I think with the same goal in mind, an NBA Championship, these two will not have a problem making up.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
1/20 SAS 56% 4 57% 67% 12 5 4 1 1 18 22.9
1/27 SAC 50% 4 80% 100% 10 8 1 1 2 16 18.5
11/10 MIL 64% 5 63% 100% 5 3 0 0 1 21 17.9
1/28 ATL 20% 0 0% 100% 10 6 3 1 0 10 17.8
2/25 DAL 39% 5 46% 50% 8 9 1 0 0 17 17.6

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

 

8. Ricky Rubio, Utah Jazz

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
UFA 28 $15 M $71.5 M N/A
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 56 28.8 40% 32% 84% 3.7 6.1 1.4 0.2 2.8 12.9
Career 486 31 39% 32% 84% 4.2 7.7 1.9 0.1 2.8 11.1

After being incredibly hyped as young Spanish point guard who was a wizard with the basketball, Rubio’s first couple years in the league were very lack luster, mostly for the fact that his jump shot was atrocious. Now a 7 year veteran, Rubio has developed into a really good point guard and basketball player. The passing and playmaking is legit, he comes up with a bunch of steals and he has improved his 3 point shooting enough to where it has to be respected.  His shooting has regressed a bit this season but his playmaking and ball hawking skills are as .

Tricky Ricky was a big part of the Utah Jazz’s playoff success last season where they dominated the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning in 6 games with Rubio averaging 14 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.  Still in his physical prime, Rubio has the potential to get a really big deal this summer if he can convince GM’s his playoff performance wasn’t a fluke.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
10/27 NOP 57% 3 43% 100% 6 12 1 0 2 28 29.8
11/19 IND 77% 5 83% 75% 4 6 3 1 4 28 26.8
2/23 DAL 57% 1 20% 80% 4 5 1 0 0 25 21.7
2/1 ATL 55% 2 33% 80% 2 11 1 0 2 22 21.6
11/25 SAC 69% 2 67% 75% 7 5 0 0 3 27 20.8

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

 

9. Terry Rozier, Boston Celtics

Type Age  2018 Salary   Career Earnings   2019 Option 
RFA 25 $3.1 M $8.8 M N/A
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 65 23 38% 35% 80% 4.1 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.8 8.9
Career 258 19.9 38% 35% 78% 3.6 2.3 0.7 0.2 0.8 7.6

Terry Rozier came into the NBA as the 16th overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Boston Celtics out of the University of Louisville.  It was until last year, his third in the league, that he started to really make an impact for the Celtics.  With Kryie Irving going down with an injury last year, Rozier stepped up in a big way in the regular season and in the playoffs.

Returning to the bench this season Rozier has not been averaging numbers, but he knows how to have big games.  Rozier is lightning quick, can shoot from deep, and can fly to hoop with reckless abandon.  There are going to be choices that need to be made in Boston with both he and Irving being free agents this summer and both wanting starting point guard roles next year.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
1/23 CLE 69% 4 80% 100% 8 6 1 0 2 26 26.5
1/30 CHO 50% 3 60% 100% 5 10 3 0 1 17 22.1
2/7 LAL 56% 5 71% 100% 4 6 1 0 0 19 21.1
11/9 UTA 54% 5 63% 100% 6 3 0 0 0 22 19.6
1/2 MIN 60% 2 40% 100% 3 5 5 1 2 16 19.5

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

 

10. Jeff Teague, Minnesota Timberwolves

Type Age  2018 Salary  Career Earnings  2019 Option
PO 30 $19 M $77.7 M $19 M
Season G MP FG% 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS
2018-19 41 30 42% 34% 81% 2.5 8.1 1 0.4 2.3 12
Career 711 27.7 45% 36% 84% 2.5 5.8 1.2 0.3 2.3 12.7

The ninth pick in the 2009 draft out of Wake Forest, Jeff Teague is super quick and super athletic, allowing him to get to the rim and get a lot of run out steals.  He was an All-Star in 2015 when he averaged 16 points and 7 assists for the first place, 60-win Atlanta Hawks which were swept in the playoffs by the eventual NBA Champion, Cleveland Cavaliers.

Dealing with several injuries, Teague has not had a good year shooting or scoring, but the 8 assists per game he is averaging is good for 5th in the entire league.  Teague will never be an All-Star in the Western Conference but he is a very good player, capable of being the point guard on a contending playoff team.

2018-2019 Top Games
Date Opp FG% 3P 3P% FT% REB AST STL BLK TO PTS GmSc
2/13 HOU 69% 1 100% 100% 3 12 1 0 1 27 29.1
10/17 SAS 67% 2 67% 100% 1 4 2 0 2 27 24.1
1/4 ORL 80% 3 100% 50% 2 10 1 0 2 23 23.8
11/12 BRK 57% 0 0% 89% 1 11 3 0 4 24 23.2
3/5 OKC 71% 1 100% 71% 5 12 1 1 2 16 20.7

*Warning: there may be explicit language in highlight videos.

 

Other Free Agent Shooting Guards:

Even beyond the top 10 their are some really solid point guards to be had this summer.

It will be interesting to see what the Mavericks do with JJ Barea.  He is 35 years old and coming off a torn achilles but while on the floor this season he was one of the best offensive players in the league.  I have a feeling the Mavs will bring him back on a minimum deal and try to nurse him back to health so he can resume his reign of terror on NBA bench units.  Can you imagine JJ Barea and Patrick Beverley on the floor at the same time for the Mavericks?  It would just be a matter of time before the other team took a swing at one of them.

Player Team Type Age  ’18-’19 Salary
Tyler Johnson MIA PO 26 $19,245,370
Jeremy Lin ATL UFA 31 $12,766,667
Darren Collison IND UFA 32 $10,000,000
Rajon Rondo LAL UFA 33 $9,000,000
Jerryd Bayless PHI UFA 31 $9,000,000
Cory Joseph IND UFA 28 $7,472,500
Milos Teodosic LAC RFA 32 $6,150,000
Ishmael Smith DET UFA 31 $6,000,000
Jose Barea DAL UFA 35 $3,710,850
Emmanuel Mudiay NYK RFA 23 $3,505,000
Elfrid Payton NOP UFA 25 $3,000,000
Cameron Payne CHI RFA 25 $2,400,184
Raymond Felton OKC UFA 35 $2,393,887
Devin Harris DAL UFA 36 $2,393,887
Jose Calderon DET UFA 38 $2,393,887
Isaiah Thomas DEN UFA 30 $2,029,463
Shelvin Mack MEM UFA 29 $2,029,463
Jerian Grant ORL RFA 26 $1,892,139
Isaiah Canaan PHX UFA 28 $1,757,429
Michael Carter-Williams HOU UFA 27 $1,757,429
Tyus Jones MIN RFA 23 $1,634,299
Tim Frazier NOP UFA 28 $1,621,415
Lorenzo Brown TOR UFA 29 $1,621,415
Ryan Arcidiacono CHI RFA 25 $1,349,383
Trey Burke NYK UFA 26 $1,289,588
T.J. McConnell PHI UFA 27 $1,117,908
Spencer Dinwiddie BKN UFA 26 $967,911
Wade Baldwin POR UFA 23 $887,422
Brad Wanamaker BOS RFA 30 $838,464
Quinn Cook GSW RFA 26 $779,892

 

Other Free Agent Articles

Everything You Need to Know About Mavs Free Agency – detailed information on Mavs future contracts, cap space, and restricted free agents.

Top 10 Free Agent Centers

Top 10 Free Agent Power Forwards

Top 10 Free Agent Small Forwards

Top 10 Free Agent Shooting Guards

Top 10 Free Agent Point Guards

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