Front-Office Insider: Ranking the top free-agent shooting guards
Bobby MarksThe Vertical
May 2, 2017, 8:44 PM UTC
The Vertical Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks, a former 20-year executive with the Nets, ranks the top shooting guards in this offseason's free-agent class.
Previously: Point guards
1. Dwyane Wade (player option)
Age in free agency: 35
Wade will need to weigh the benefits of playing at home with a $23.8 million salary against the future uncertainty of the Bulls' roster.
While there would still be a market for Wade if he opted out, his salary would likely be reduced to less than $15 million.
Wade, with three championships, is at the stage in his career in which quality of life outweighs chasing titles.
Dwyane Wade has a player option for next season worth $23.8 million. (AP)
2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (restricted)
Since improving during his second season, Caldwell-Pope's production level has flat-lined a little.
Still one of the top two-way players in this year's free-agent class, Caldwell-Pope will have leverage when it comes to contract negotiations.
With the Pistons right at the salary cap, Detroit would not have a suitable replacement if Caldwell-Pope's offer sheet goes unmatched.
3. JJ Redick
The Clippers' cap situation could make one of the top shooters in the league expendable.
Although Redick has Bird rights, which allows Los Angeles to exceed the cap to bring him back, the pending $30 million-plus price tags of free-agent teammates Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will force management to weigh the immense financial costs in salary and luxury tax.
Redick has proved to be durable the past three seasons, missing only 15 total regular-season games.
Redick's next contract should fall in the $16 million-$18 million range, either with the Clippers or possibly with a rebuilding team that has cap space.
4. Tim Hardaway Jr. (restricted)
Hardaway has turned a preseason to forget, shooting 30 percent from the field, into an eventual starting spot on a Hawks playoff team.
Hardaway was a valuable part of the Hawks' bench before moving into the starting lineup in March and averaging 14 points per game in 30 starts.
He should see a significant raise from his $2.3 million salary.
5. Dion Waiters (player option)
Waiters found a comfort level and a role in Miami that suited his talents, averaging 15.8 points per game and helping the Heat turn around their season.
Now likely to opt out of his $3 million contract, will a change of scenery stagnate the growth that Waiters displayed this season?
Waiters will have non-Bird rights and the Heat would need to use salary-cap room to re-sign him.
6. C.J. Miles (player option)
Expect Miles to opt out of his $4.7 million option.
Miles has been consistent starting or coming off the bench during his three years with the Pacers.
He has improved his overall offensive game this year, which is reflected in career highs in offensive efficiency and three-point shooting.
His value should be right at the $8.4 million room mid-level exception, almost double from what he would have earned by opting in to his contract.
7. Tony Allen
Don't let his age fool you.
Allen has shown that there is still plenty of basketball left in him, especially on the defensive end.
But with the pending free agency of Zach Randolph and JaMychal Green – and with $92 million in guaranteed contracts – the Grizzlies might not be able to afford him.
Manu Ginobili is in his 15th NBA season. (AP)
8. Manu Ginobili
Don't expect a change of address for Ginobili if the future Hall of Famer decides to play another season.
After an injury-plagued 2015-16 season, Ginobili was a valuable contributor off the Spurs' bench and proved he still has plenty to offer.
9. Ian Clark
Clark is one of the key reserve players the Warriors may have a tough time retaining.
Unlike Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala, Clark has a low $1.4 million cap hold that will not make him a cap-casualty based on Kevin Durant's contract decision.
However, if Clark's price tag is more than the projected $7.8 million average player salary, Golden State will not have the cap space to bring Clark back.
Expect Clark, who has played on consecutive one-year contracts with the Warriors, to have plenty of suitors this summer.
10. Tony Snell (restricted)
The cap-clearing trade in February that sent Miles Plumlee to Charlotte has given the Bucks some luxury-tax flexibility.
Snell is a perfect fit in Milwaukee because of his length and ability to play multiple positions.
Snell, acquired before the season from Chicago, has been a starter and found a role with Milwaukee, something that wasn't available with the Bulls.
While Snell has produced a career year in Milwaukee, a lack of consistency should keep the Bucks from offering a contract north of $10 million per year.
11. Justin Holiday
Holiday has been the rare consistent player in New York's disappointing season.
On his fourth team in the last three seasons, Holiday has developed into a solid contributor off the Knicks' bench.
Because of Holiday's $1.4 million free-agent cap hold, New York can use available cap space to address other roster needs before turning its attention to sign Holiday with the early Bird exception.
Other free-agent shooting guards (in order by team)
• Randy Foye, Brooklyn
• KJ McDaniels, Brooklyn (team option/restricted)
• James Young, Boston (fourth-year restriction)
• Anthony Morrow, Chicago
• DeAndre Liggins, Dallas (team option)
• Reggie Bullock, Detroit (restricted)
• Alan Anderson, LA Clippers
• Nick Young, LA Lakers (player option)
• Vince Carter, Memphis
• Brandon Rush, Minnesota
• Sasha Vujacic, New York Knicks
• Jodie Meeks, Orlando
• Ben McLemore, Sacramento (restricted)
• Jonathon Simmons, San Antonio (restricted)
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