Although some top-tier players who were expected to hit free
agency this coming summer have already signed extensions, the 2022
NBA free-agent class will feature quite a few stars.
In particular, the crop of guards up for grabs is quite
impressive, which is where we will begin this three-part ranking
series.
1. James Harden — Philadelphia 76ers — Player
Option
James Harden holds a player option worth $47.4 million for the
2022-23 season, and it was reported that Harden would exercise it
in conjunction with his trade from Brooklyn to Philadelphia.
Although he hasn't done so yet, Harden has said he plans to. Over
the summer, the maximum offer the Sixers can present to Harden is a
pact that would pay him up north of $270 million over the next six
years, which ESPN analyst Bobby Marks declared would be the "worst
contract in NBA history." Here's a look at what Harden's annual
salary would look like:
2022-23: $47.4 million
2023-24: $49.7 million
2024-25: $53.7 million
2025-26: $57.7 million
2026-27: $61.7 million
2. Zach LaVine — Chicago Bulls —
Unrestricted
Zach LaVine bet on himself instead of signing a four-year, $105
million extension last offseason, and the gamble has most certainly
paid off. He's averaging 24.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and
2.9 made three-pointers while shooting 40.0% from downtown and a
career-high 85.7% from the free-throw line. Steph Curry is the only
player in the NBA to match or exceed LaVine in those statistical
categories this season. With LaVine playing at such a high level
and the Bulls near the top of the Eastern Conference standings,
Chicago is fully expected to offer him a max deal of five years at
approximately $200 million. The most any other team can offer
LaVine is around $160 million over four years.
3. Bradley Beal — Washington Wizards — Player
Option
The Wizards announced last month that Bradley Beal underwent
surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. Prior to the
injury, Beal's scoring average had dipped dramatically (from 31.3
points per game in 2020-21 to 23.2 this season), and he was
shooting just 30.0% from downtown, but the three-time All-Star was
averaging a career-high 6.6 assists. Beal's player option for the
2022-23 season is worth $36.4 million.
4. Kyrie Irving — Brooklyn Nets — Player
Option
It's been a tumultuous season for both Kyrie Irving and the
Nets. Kyrie's refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 — which
resulted in him being banished from the team for the first half of
the year before Brooklyn welcomed him back to play in road games —
reportedly was an important factor in James Harden's decision to
demand a trade. In the preseason, the Nets were heavy favorites to
take home the title, but find themselves below .500 and in ninth
place in the East. Brooklyn is just 1-9 in the last 10 games Irving
has appeared in. Considering all the drama (and the reports that
Irving would consider retirement if he was traded), it seems safe
to assume Kyrie will remain in Brooklyn. But when it comes to Mr.
Irving (who has a player option for the 2022–23 season worth
$36,934,550), making assumptions often proves unwise. Stay
tuned.
5. Anfernee Simons — Portland Trail Blazers —
Restricted
It could be argued that Anfernee Simons has increased his value
more than any player in the league over the last five months. After
averaging a modest 7.8 points per game last season, Simons is
pouring in 17.3 points per game in 2021-22, which represents the
largest year-over-year increase in the NBA this season. And his
numbers are even more impressive dating back to the start of the
New Year, when he was permanently inserted into the starting
lineup.
Over the 27 games he's appeared in since the calendar flipped to
January, the 22-year-old Simons is averaging 23.4 points, 5.8
assists, 2.7 rebounds and 4.4 made triples, while shooting 42.3%
from downtown and 86.6% from the charity stripe. Simons leads the
league in made three-pointers (119) in 2022. Yes, he's struggled on
the defensive end, but one of the primary reasons the Blazers made
multiple major moves before the deadline (trading away CJ McCollum,
Norman Powell and Robert Covington) was to clear up cap space to
sign Simons to a considerable extension this summer. They are not
going to let him walk.
6. Jalen Brunson — Dallas Mavericks —
Unrestricted
After two solid, if unspectacular, seasons to start his NBA
career, Jalen Brunson took a significant step forward last season;
he averaged 12.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 treys in
25.7 minutes per game, while shooting 52.3% from the floor and
40.5% from downtown. The Villanova product has continued to improve
in 2021-22, posting career-highs in points (16.2), assists (5.3)
and rebounds (3.7) per contest. Brunson also showed he could
shoulder increased responsibility by stepping in and stepping up
when Luka Doncic missed 14 of Dallas' first 35 games this season.
Jalen played the best basketball of his NBA career over an
eight-game stretch in mid-to-late December, when he averaged 22.4
points and 7.9 dimes a night. This offseason, Brunson reportedly
will be seeking a four-year, $80 million deal. The New York Knicks
are among the teams expected to express serious interest.
7. Collin Sexton — Cleveland Cavaliers —
Restricted
Collin Sexton injured his left knee in a game in early November,
and an MRI revealed a torn meniscus. He had surgery a week later,
sidelining him for the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign. It will be
fascinating to see what offers he receives on the open market. Last
season, Sexton averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists while shooting
47.5% from the floor, 37.5% from downtown and 81.5% from the
free-throw line. However, he struggled defensively, and the Cavs
registered a league-worst 60-159 record over the first three years
of his career. With Sexton out of action this season, Cleveland is
10 games above .500. Because he is restricted, the Cavs can match
any offer he receives this summer.
8. Malik Monk — Los Angeles Lakers —
Unrestricted
Mailk Monk, the 11th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, failed
to live up to expectations over the first four years of his career
in Charlotte. He made just one career start as a member of the
Hornets, and had averaged 9.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists
in 233 appearances while shooting below 34% from downtown. As a
result, the Los Angeles Lakers were able to ink him to a one-year
contract at the veteran minimum ($1.7 million) for this season.
Surprisingly, Monk has established himself as one of the Lakers'
most consistent and effective players. In the 23 games he's started
for L.A., Monk has averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists
while posting a True Shooting percentage of 58.8%. He will look to
cash in with a significant pay raise in July.
9. Russell Westbrook — Los Angeles Lakers — Player
Option
Besides Monk's unexpected success and the MVP-caliber
performance of the ageless wonder that is LeBron James, the 2021-22
Lakers season has been an absolute nightmare. L.A. is eight games
below .500 and desperately fighting just to make the Play-In
Tournament. And Russell Westbrook is the player the public has pilloried and pinned
the Lakers' failures on. Russ has a player option for the
2022-23 season worth a whopping $47,063,478, so there is almost
zero chance of him opting out. The Lakers will undoubtedly explore
all possible trade scenarios this offseason.
10. John Wall — Houston Rockets — Player
Option
John Wall showed flashes of his immense talent last season, when
he averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists per game for the Rockets,
but he hasn't set foot on an NBA court since April 2021. Wall will
almost certainly exercise his player option for 2022-23 worth $47.4
million. At that point, he'll be on an expiring contract, which
will make it far easier for Houston to move him.
Best of the Rest:
Dennis Schroder, Patty Mills (player option), Kendrick Nunn (player
option), Victor Oladipo, Gary Payton II, Gary Harris, Lonnie Walker
IV (restricted), Tomas Satoransky, Ricky Rubio, Goran Dragic, Delon
Wright, Lou Williams, Facundo Campazzo (restricted), Bruce Brown
Jr., Donte DiVincenzo (restricted), Pat Connaughton (player
option), Jeremy Lamb, Tyus Jones, Cory Joseph