There’s only a handful of games left in the 2022-23 NBA season. That means there’s only a few more days before everyone’s focus turns to this summer’s free agency.
As is the case across positions, the list of the top shooting guards on the open market could change based on who actually becomes available. There are player options and team options to be considered, for instance.
For shooting guard, it’s basically a prerequisite to consider the players who have options of some sort coming due this summer. In fact, it’s possible the top five free agents at the position are all players who could choose – or see their team choose – to stick around, making them less than available.
As NBA free agency approaches, here’s a look at the best shooting guards who could be had during the 2023 offseason.
This summer’s shooting guard free agency class is extremely deep. Austin Rivers and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are dozens of spots below the top on the old spreadsheet and both would be fine adds for many teams.
There are also some veterans who fail to crack the top five, but are worth mentioning as intriguing players on the market. Seth Curry will be available, for one, and could obviously bring high-level shooting to any team. Also, who will be willing to take a chance on injury-begotten Victor Oladipo?
Think there’s a player missing who belongs towards the top of this list? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
Here are the top five shooting guards available in free agency this summer.
5. Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers
Speaking of injuries, there was a time where it didn’t seem like Caris LeVert would be able to get back to his former level or stay on the court. But he proved himself a valuable sixth man on the Cleveland Cavaliers this year.
LeVert played in 74 games this season, the most he’s ever played in a campaign during his career. He averaged 12.1 points per game, hitting 39.2 percent of his three-pointers.
LeVert’s high usage, triple-double potential ceiling doesn’t seem to exist any more, wiped out by injuries. He’ll be 29 by the start of the next season. But even at a bench level, his all-around play is extremely valuable.
The guard – who can also play small forward – has been vocal about wanting to return to the Cavs, and it seems like it’s in the young contender’s best interest to keep around their stabilizing veteran force on the bench. After earning $18.8 million this year, however, it might require an annual salary around that to get LeVert back into the fold.
There are already other teams interested in him, though. Sam Amico of Hoops Wire named two teams that could pursue LeVert: the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies.
One interesting thing about LeVert’s free agency – he’s arguably the best unrestricted free agent shooting guard on the market, depending on outlooks for Max Strus, Seth Curry, and Josh Richardson. So if those with options end up exercising those, LeVert’s market could expand.
4. Gary Trent Jr., Toronto Raptors
Gary Trent Jr. is a fascinating player to watch in free agency. He’s better than he gets recognized for on a national level and is still young enough to have serious untapped potential.
During his second full season with the Toronto Raptors, Trent continued to play the role of regular starter and occasional bench force. He averaged 17.4 points per game, within a point of the personal mark he set last season.
Still, the season felt like a little bit of a step back for the 24-year old. His counting stats were down across the board, albeit by very little. He also only hit 36.9 percent of his threes, the worst percentage for a full season in his career.
Even with the declines, Trent was still one of the top players in several categories. His 1.6 steals per game ranked seventh in the league, while his 2.4 steal percentage ranked eighth.
And while he’s not an elite passer, coaches feel safe knowing the ball is in Trent’s hands. His 5.1 turnover percentage was tops in the NBA for the second time in three years – he finished third last season.
There are reports that the Raptors expect to lose both Trent and Fred VanVleet in free agency, though it’s never clear who is throwing these smokescreens. Where would Trent go if he leaves?
One rumored destination is Orlando, where the Magic are trying desperately to kick their rebuild into the next phase. They have a young, fun, and fast team and Trent would be a fit, particularly on the defensive end.
Trent does have a player option for next season, which he would need to exercise by June 15. It would pay him $18.56 million next season, but he could likely get a better payday on the open market.
3. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
Never thought you’d see the day where Austin Reaves was a top free agent in the NBA? Most people would agree. But here we are – the third member of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ Big Three (sorry D’Angelo Russell) is preparing for a big offer sheet.
The fresh 25-year old was arguably the biggest bargain in the game this season. He joined the Lakers on a two-way contract after going undrafted before seeing that converted to a standard contract. His salary this year was $1.5 million, a far cry from what he’ll make a year from now.
In his second year, Reaves became one of the best shooters in the entire league. His true shooting percentage of 68.7 ranked fourth in the league. As a result, he also had one of the best offensive ratings in the NBA.
He was somehow even better during the postseason. He averaged 16.9 points per game, knocking down 44.3 percent of his three-pointers. Among qualified shooters, that mark ranks 12th in NBA history.
Reaves is a restricted free agent, so the Lakers will have the chance to match any offer sheet Reaves gets. Considering how popular he’s become in that market, the Lakers may not have much of a choice but to do so.
There are a bunch of complicated financials involved in Reaves’ restricted free agency, but he’s probably destined to get at least one four-year offer with an AAV of $20 million. Unless the Lakers are going off script – never an impossibility in Hollywood – they’d match that.
2. Josh Hart, New York Knicks
It’s hard to overstate how important Josh Hart was to the New York Knicks this season after coming over midyear in a trade. That value could translate to a nice chunk of change for Hart in free agency.
Frequently playing both shooting guard and small forward, Hart is the picture of versatility, both in the positions he can play and in what he provides on the court. He’s not a big scorer, but there’s little else on the court he doesn’t do, including finding the right moments to defer and the right moments to capitalize on his skills.
Hart is not going to be back on the player option he has for next season, which would pay him the same $12.96 million he made this past year. How do we know this? No less of an authority than the man himself said he would opt out.
But he also expressed an interest in returning. If the money makes sense, the Knicks would happily bring Hart back into the fold.
He’s certainly in line to make more than $13 million next season. Rumors and estimates online are saying a multiyear deal in the $18-$22 million range may make a lot of sense.
While a return to New York seems to be in the cards for Hart, he has the type of game that could fit well with virtually any team. His do-anything mentality may even be useful for one of the Knicks’ old-time rivals and recent playoff foes, the Miami Heat.
1. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers
James Harden is easily one of the most interesting free agents of the summer. That’s if he becomes a free agent at all, since he has a player option that will pay the guard handsomely if he stays with the Philadelphia 76ers.
In some ways, the shine is coming off The Beard. He’s still an elite passer and his scoring his still excellent, but it doesn’t feel like he’s destined to be a No. 1 option on a team again. Considering the fact that he’s currently playing alongside reigning MVP Joel Embiid, he doesn’t really need to be.
He’s also not being as aggressive about getting to the line, understandable for a player who will turn 34 during the offseason. Often criticized earlier in his career for hunting fouls, his 6.2 free throw attempts per game last season were his least since 2011-12.
The Sixers felt closer than ever this season to returning to the NBA Finals – or least the Eastern Conference Finals – but couldn’t get the job done. That resulted in the end of Doc Rivers’ tenure, replaced by somewhat recent champion Nick Nurse.
The rumor mill has been churning for Harden since long before the coaching change, though. There were reports earlier this season that a reunion could be in the cards with the Houston Rockets. With the Phoenix Suns seemingly ready to move on from Chris Paul, Harden’s name is now being floated as a replacement in the desert.
Then again, he could just exercise his player option, which would bump his salary from $33 million to $35.6 million. That base salary might feel disrespectful – it would rank him seventh among shooting guards with a deal in place for next season – but if he likes Philadelphia, it would be a surefire way to stick around.
All eyes on the shooting guard free agency watch will be trained towards James Harden in the coming weeks.