KYRIE WHO? > TOP FREE AGENT POINT GUARDS CLASS OF 2019

TOP FREE AGENT POINT GUARDS CLASS OF 2019

1. Kyrie Irving
Player Option / Point Guard / 6-3 / Team: Boston Celtics
23.8 ppg, 6.9 apg, 40.1 3P%

One of the hardest-to-defend point guards in the league. Will he listen to outside suitors this offseason or is him re-signing in Boston an inevitability?
Agent: Jeff Wechsler
2018/19 Earnings: $20,099,189
Career Earnings: $75,108,436

2. Kemba Walker
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-1 / Team: Charlotte Hornets
25.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 5.9 apg

For the past three seasons, he has performed at an elite level but hasn’t been paid like it. That will undoubtedly change this offseason.
Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2018/19 Earnings: $12,000,000
Career Earnings: $46,199,401

3. D’Angelo Russell
Restricted / Point Guard / 6-5 / Team: Brooklyn Nets
21.1 ppg, 7.0 apg, 36.9 3P%

He played the best basketball of his young career this season, helped lead Brooklyn to a playoff spot and got the first All-Star bid of his time as a professional. Looks to be someone the Nets might build around, but those plans could change depending on how they fare in free agency this summer.
Agent: Austin Brown
2018/19 Earnings: $7,019,698
Career Earnings: $15,998,280

4. Malcolm Brogdon
Restricted / Point Guard / 6-5 / Team: Milwaukee Bucks
15.6 ppg, 3.2 apg, 42.6 3P%

Can play either guard spot effectively, both on offense and defense. Has blossomed into a knockdown three-point shooter.
Agent: Danielle Cantor
2018/19 Earnings: $1,544,951
Career Earnings: $2,237,611

5. Goran Dragic
Player Option / Point Guard / 6-3 / Team: Miami Heat
13.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.8 apg

He displayed clear signs of regression this year, which makes sense since he’ll be entering his age-32 season next season. Reportedly undecided on whether or not he will exercise his player option this summer.
Agent: Rade Filipovich
2018/19 Earnings: $18,109,175
Career Earnings: $77,379,858

6. Ricky Rubio
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-4 / Team: Utah Jazz
12.7 ppg, 6.1 apg, 1.3 spg

Reliable floor general. Coach-on-the-floor type who has become a somewhat respectable three-point shooter. It seems likely that he’ll be wearing a different jersey next season.
Agent: Jeff Schwartz
2018/19 Earnings: $14,800,000
Career Earnings: $55,216,408

7. Derrick Rose
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-3 / Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
18.0 ppg, 4.3 apg, 37.0 3P%

Almost out of nowhere, he had moments this year where he resembled his old self. Shot a career-best percentage from three, which helped him offset his drop in athleticism. Nagging injuries still a problem.
Agent: BJ Armstrong
2018/19 Earnings: $2,176,260
Career Earnings: $120,415,866

8. Terry Rozier
Restricted / Point Guard / 6-2 / Team: Boston Celtics
9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg

Numbers have taken a dip now that he’s returned to a full-time bench role. Proved in 2017-18 that he can handle starting point-guard duties, and handle them dutifully.
Agent: Aaron Turner
2018/19 Earnings: $3,050,389
Career Earnings: $5,719,320

9. Elfrid Payton
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-3 / Team: New Orleans Pelicans
10.6 ppg, 7.6 apg

Through injuries, he ended up having a solid season for New Orleans this year, proving that he’s still one of the better distributors in the Association.
Agent: Aaron Mintz
2018/19 Earnings: $3,000,000
Career Earnings: $3,849,500

10. Patrick Beverley
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-1 / Team: Los Angeles Clippers
7.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg

Complete pest defensively. A guy you want on your side to close a tight game.
Agent: Bill Duffy
2018/19 Earnings: $5,027,028
Career Earnings: $20,774,362

11. Darren Collison
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-0 / Team: Indiana Pacers
11.2 ppg, 6.0 apg

Veteran point guard who can run an offense, hit open shots and jump passing lanes defensively at a high level.
Agent: Bill Duffy
2018/19 Earnings: $10,000,000
Career Earnings: $33,059,051

12. Rajon Rondo
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-1 / Team: Los Angeles Lakers
9.2 ppg, 8.0 apg

Still a productive point guard who can rack up assists and wreak havoc defensively by jumping passing lanes. His man-to-man defense really dropped off this year, though.
Agent: Bill Duffy
2018/19 Earnings: $9,000,000
Career Earnings: $88,622,794

13. Isaiah Thomas
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 5-9 / Team: Denver Nuggets
8.1 ppg, 1.9 apg

Briefly entered the Nuggets’ rotation this year before ultimately being pulled due to ineffectiveness. It seems like his best days are very much in the past.
Agent: Sam Goldfeder
2018/19 Earnings: $2,029,463
Career Earnings: $30,175,846

14. Ishmael Smith
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-0 / Team: Detroit Pistons
8.9 ppg, 3.6 apg

Lightning quick floor general who can get to whatever spot he wants to on the floor. His struggles as an outside shooter really hurt his potential impact.
Agent: Andrew Morrison
2018/19 Earnings: $6,000,000
Career Earnings: $23,863,089

15. TJ McConnell
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-2 / Team: Philadelphia 76ers
6.4 ppg, 3.4 apg

His numbers don’t measure his impact. Could even be a half-decent spot starter in the right situation.
Agent: Chris Emens
2018/19 Earnings: $1,600,520
Career Earnings: $4,471,631

16. Jeremy Lin
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-3 / Team: Toronto Raptors
9.6 ppg, 3.1 apg

Put up all right numbers as a Hawk, but once he got traded to the Raptors, he completely fell out of the rotation. Not the best thing to happen when you’re about to hit free agency.
Agent: Jim Tanner
2018/19 Earnings: $12,516,746
Career Earnings: $67,002,087

17. Cory Joseph
Unrestricted / Point Guard / 6-3 / Team: Indiana Pacers
6.5 ppg, 3.9 apg

Has mastered the role of backup point guard over the years.
Agent: Rich Paul
2018/19 Earnings: $7,945,000
Career Earnings: $34,867,660

18. Jeff Teague
Player Option / Point Guard / 6-2 / Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
11.5 ppg, 8.1 apg

Good one-on-one scorer who can dish the rock and rack up takeaways on defense.
Agent: JR Hensley
2018/19 Earnings: $19,000,000
Career Earnings: $58,355,440

19. Emmanuel Mudiay
Restricted / Point Guard / 6-5 / Team: New York Knicks
14.8 ppg, 3.9 apg

Improved his production this season and had a career year according to multiple advanced metrics.
Agent: BJ Armstrong
2018/19 Earnings: $4,294,479
Career Earnings: $56,855,817

112288

Rozier at #8...probably higher than most Celtic fans feel he deserves I think.

I am not shocked, but I will not be surprised to see him fail in the starting role and revert back to the bench. The two teams I have read that are interested in him are Indy and Chicago, but I am sure there will be other suitors. I guess it remains to be seen how he will perform when out from under Boston's watchful eye. He should thank Brad for setting him up last year.

Start the search as Irving will be gone and Danny has a nice selection of Free Agents to pick from.

I like the following and not necessarily in order:

Rondo
Walker
Rubio
Teague
Payton - Follows AD

And Danny will have money left to sink into a great forward or two

112288

Should Irving leave (and it seems at least half of Celtics fans think he should leave...)

My preference;

1. Rozier
2. Walker
C. Smart (He's a point, originally, but I like him better at 2-guard.)

Klay Thompson would be a great addition at shooting guard.

112288

K. Walker, K. Thompson, money left for a great FA forward or two?

please tell me how?

kdp59 wrote:K. Walker, K. Thompson, money left for a great FA forward or two?

please tell me how?

PlayStation?

gyso wrote:

kdp59 wrote:K. Walker, K. Thompson, money left for a great FA forward or two?

please tell me how?

PlayStation?

OK now it makes sense...that's about the ONLY way to get one of those guys

I am not sure what Ainge will do to replace Irving, but I surely hope that he puts more effort into determining any replacement's personality traits and type. There is a lot to be said about having talent, but also how that talent fits and blends with the team culture and personality.

Small sample size or not there is a lot to consider regarding the Cs team performances in the 2018 playoffs when looking at team play and the "talent" (all NBA players have talent) that was on the court.  Again, players who play well together sometimes is the most important factor in team success.

I do not think anyone could have predicted what happened here with Irving. He had basically won a championship playing better than LeBron and hitting the winning shot. He was robbed of the MVP that year. Danny traded for what he thought was a better player, he never would have done it if he thought there was a personality issue here. We are grabbing at straws here trying to find someone to blame for this debacle. The thing is, no one could have imagined this happening. Statistically, he had a terrific year

RosalieTCeltics wrote:I do not think anyone could have predicted what happened here with Irving. He had basically won a championship playing better than LeBron and hitting the winning shot. He was robbed of the MVP that year.  Danny traded for what he thought was a better player, he never would have done it if he thought there was a personality issue here. We are grabbing at straws here trying to find someone to blame for this debacle. The thing is, no one could have imagined this happening. Statistically, he had a terrific year

Rosalie
I'm with you on this issue - sounds like a lynch mob looking for someone to hang - it always seems like there's a blame game to be played after every unexpected disapointing loss. Beware of a rush to judgement.

swish

swish wrote:

RosalieTCeltics wrote:I do not think anyone could have predicted what happened here with Irving. He had basically won a championship playing better than LeBron and hitting the winning shot. He was robbed of the MVP that year.  Danny traded for what he thought was a better player, he never would have done it if he thought there was a personality issue here. We are grabbing at straws here trying to find someone to blame for this debacle. The thing is, no one could have imagined this happening. Statistically, he had a terrific year

Rosalie
I'm with you on this issue -  sounds like a lynch mob looking for someone to hang - it always seems like there's a blame game to be played after every unexpected disapointing loss. Beware of a rush to judgement.

swish

+2  (one for each of you)

Sometimes, perfectly good ingredients in a recipe do not end with great results.  Like when Karl Malone and Gary Payton signed with the Lakers, it looked great on paper, but it just never clicked.

Below is a list of guards that have played since the 1979-80 season with the conditions as listed at the top of the list - the key stipulation being that they all must have averaged at least 12 fga per game - no part time shooters here. High ranking for Irving for sure in fga,efg and assist - all when compared to a bevy of super stars. And many want him out of here because of a bad playoff series. Perhaps there are other issues that cloud the picture but as of now they are just part of the rumor mill. I'm interested in what managements side of the story will be.

  http://bkref.com/tiny/eGlYv

 swish

kdp59 wrote:

gyso wrote:

kdp59 wrote:K. Walker, K. Thompson, money left for a great FA forward or two?

please tell me how?

PlayStation?

OK now it makes sense...that's about the ONLY way to get one of those guys

If you don't have Irving, and possibly even one or two other current roster players, why would you have a problem signing someone new? Plus Horford has said he'd be willing to do something team friendly with his contract. Sounds like an opening to sign a FA to me.

gyso wrote:

kdp59 wrote:K. Walker, K. Thompson, money left for a great FA forward or two?

please tell me how?

PlayStation?

BECAUSE YOU ARE RESTRUCTURING HORFORD'S CONTRACT TO ABOUT $15M PER YEAR FOR 3 YEARS. THAT IS WHY.

YOU ARE SIGNING WALKER AND IF NOT, RONDO AND YOU GO FOR THOMPSON.

I SHOULD HAVE INDICATED OR NOT BOTH.

112288

Regardless of whether we resign Kyrie or not, I would let Terry walk and sign TJ McConnell. As a backup.

worcester wrote:Regardless of whether we resign Kyrie or not, I would let Terry walk and sign TJ McConnell. As a backup.

Agreed a lot of times these athletes that never masted the basic shot think they can do more than they can do, Terry was terrible, showing up one half out of every 5 games. Would rather have that steady player that makes the right play all the time. I like TJ another good back up is JJ Berea....

112288 wrote:

gyso wrote:

kdp59 wrote:K. Walker, K. Thompson, money left for a great FA forward or two?

please tell me how?

PlayStation?

BECAUSE YOU ARE RESTRUCTURING HORFORD'S CONTRACT TO ABOUT $15M PER YEAR FOR 3 YEARS.  THAT IS WHY.

YOU ARE SIGNING WALKER AND IF NOT, RONDO AND YOU GO FOR THOMPSON.  

I SHOULD HAVE INDICATED OR  NOT BOTH.

112288

OK I can agree that IF Irving leaves (most of us seem to want that) AND l we renounce Rozier AND Horford leaves $14M on the table, the there would be about $24M in cap space.

might be enough for a top lever free agent on a market deal, but certainly not Thompson or Walker (who both will want max of close deals).

I do doubt that Horford is willing to take that much of a haircut though...but I suppose its possible. I have read rumors that Atlanta would love to have him come back home to finish his career, so the Celtics could even have some competition if he opts out. Would the Hawks give him a 3 year/ $60M deal?

who knows, its all speculation for sure.

RosalieTCeltics wrote:I am not shocked, but I will not be surprised to see him fail in the starting role and revert back to the bench.  The two teams I have read that are interested in him are Indy and Chicago, but I am sure there will be other suitors.   I guess it remains to be seen how he will perform when out from under Boston's watchful eye.  He should thank Brad for setting him up last year.

  and Brad should thank him for his playoff performance in 17-18. Stevens didn't have many other choices. That being said, it is time for a divorce.