A few days ago, I made my top 10 free agent point guards heading into the NBA Offseason. Today, I will be ranking my top 10 free agent shooting guards.
10. Vince Carter
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies
- Type of FA: Unrestricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 8.0 points, 3.1 rebounds & 1.8 assists
Vince Carter has said that he still has left in the tank to play one or two more seasons. At 40 years old, he showed this past season and especially during this past playoff series against the Spurs that he can still give quality minutes. He might not be the athletic dunker anymore, but he changed to a three-point shooter as his career has progressed. The question is now can will a team give Carter another chance to chase a ring.
9. Kyle Korver
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Type of FA: Unrestricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 10.7 points, 2.8 rebounds & 1.0 assists
Korver came in from the Hawks in a mid-season trade and has been a solid contributor for the Cavaliers this season. He is 36 years old and can still shoot the ball well from three. There is still a market for a guy like Korver.
8. Tony Allen
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies
- Type of FA: Unrestricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists & 1.6 steals
So far on this list, we have three guys over 35 on this list. Allen is 35 and is still one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. He is a popular guy in Memphis and might come back for a veteran’s minimum deal.
7. Andre Roberson
- Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
- Type of FA: Restricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 steals & 1.0 blocks
Roberson is a not great on the offensive end but makes it up on the defensive end.
6. Tim Hardaway Jr.
- Team: Atlanta Hawks
- Type of FA: Restricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 14.5 points, 2.8 rebounds & 2.3 assists
Hardaway Jr. had a solid rookie year with the New York Knicks but struggled the next few seasons. This past season he ended up posted a career high in scoring. This will definitely help him entering free agency.
5. Jonathon Simmons
- Team: San Antonio Spurs
- Type of FA: Restricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds & 1.6 assists
A feel good story in the NBA. The former Houston Cougar spent time in the D-League before earning a roster spot with the Spurs two seasons ago. He is an athletic point guard that will definitely get some teams lining up for his services in free agency.
4. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Team: Detroit Pistons
- Type of FA: Restricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists & 1.2 steals
The former top 10 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft has been decent for the Pistons. He has improved every season and the team will likely match any offer he receives from other teams.
3. J.J. Redick
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers
- Type of FA: Unrestricted
- 2016-2017 season stats: 15.0 points, 2.2 rebounds & 1.4 assists
J.J. Redick is a great shooter and can defend well on the other end. The Clippers ended their season with another disapointing short postseason run, so the team might be cleaning house. The three-point shooting veteran will get plenty of looks in the offseason.
2. Dwyane Wade
- Team: Chicago Bulls
- Type of FA: Player Option
- 2016-2017 season stats: 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists & 1.4 steals
Averaging 18 points is solid for any NBA, but this was the worst scoring average for the three-time NBA Champion since his rookie season in 2003-2004. The 35-year-old veteran might not be the main scoring option anymore, but he can still contribute to a team that is championship ready. The question now is will Wade opt-out of his contract this summer?
1. Dion Waiters
- Team: Miami Heat
- Type of FA: Player Option
- 2016-2017 season stats: 15.8 points, 3.3 rebounds & 4.3 assists
Raise your hand if, at the beginning of the season, you predicted the Miami Heat will compete for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference……..*crickets* They might not have made it, but it is impressive that they were able to compete.
Looking at that roster on paper, it looked like a rebuilding year but Dion Waiters was one of the main reasons why they were so competitive. Once Waiters was injured towards the end of the year, the Heat went down with him. Waiters, in his career, has been known as more of a hot and cold type of player, however, this season he was very efficient and averaged career highs across the board with an overachieving Heat squad. He recently posted on the Players’ Tribune that we wants to stay in Miami and I can’t blame him. Miami has revitialized his career and will look to help quickly rebulid the momentum from last week.
Stay tuned as I look at my top 10 2017 NBA free agent small forwards.
