2016 Free Agents: Top shooting guards available in the offseason

In a previous article, we tackled the top point guards available in the market after the 2015-2016 NBA Season. Like the PG situation, the shooting guard free agent market is a bit shallow. Nonetheless, there are key stars that could be acquired that could make or break a team’s chances in their future campaigns.

Here are the top free agents from the shooting guard position in the 2016 offseason:

Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)
2015-2016 salary: $5.7 million (AU $8.13 million)
2015-2016 stats (17 games): 19.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 36.5 minutes per game

Beal is enjoying a career scoring average this season shooting at a respectable clip (43.8 percent overall and and 38.9 percent from three) and is one of the key pieces in the Wizards’ roster.

Along with John Wall, Beal forms one of the most dangerous backcourts in the league owing to the pairs’ versatility and ability to draw defences all the way to the three-point line and attack inside.

While Beal can explore free agency after the 2015-2016 season, he is a restricted free agent, which means the Wizards can match any offer sheet for the shooting guard.

2015-2016 salary: $20 million (AU $28.5 million)
2015-2016 stats (34 games): 18.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 30.0 minutes per game

It’s difficult to see D-Wade playing for another squad at this point of his career. The 13-year shooting guard has been with the same squad that drafted him the fifth overall pick in the fabled 2003 draft. However, Wade is already 33 years old and entering the twilight of his career.

Will a team outbid the Heat and offer him an extravagant deal, which the veteran can’t refuse? Will Wade be loyal to Pat Riley and the Heat and settle for a discount moving forward?

2015-2016 salary: $$10.05 (AU $14.33 million)
2015-2016 stats (37 games): 22.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 36.5 minutes per game

DeRozan is the scoring leader of the mediocre Toronto Raptors and a couple of question begs when the high-flying shooting guard enters free agency; first, is he a good enough franchise player to lead a squad to an NBA title, that Toronto will stick with him as the No. 1 guy in their team?

Second, is DeRozan tired of the situation in Toronto, which has never performed well in the postseason, that the shooting guard may want to seek greener pastures and sign with another squad that has a better shot at the championship?

DeRozan is once again proving inside the court that he’s one of the best shooting guards in the league and makes a scary backcourt with point guard Kyle Lowry in Toronto. After this season, DeRozan will decide if he will pick up the “player option” in his contract and stay in Canada.

Most likely, that decision will rest on how the Raptors will fare in the playoffs; for Canada and Toronto’s sake, they should impress DeRozan and convince him that the Raptors will improve this year and the upcoming seasons.

Other top free agent shooting guards in the 2016 offseason: Arron Afflalo (New York Knicks), Kent Bazemore (Atlanta Hawks), Evan Fournier (Orlando Magic), J.R. Smith (Cleveland Cavaliers), Eric Gordon (New Orleans Pelicans), Lance Stephenson (Los Angeles Clippers), O.J. Mayo (Milwaukee Bucks), Jamal Crawford (Clippers), Courtney Lee (Memphis Grizzlies) and Dion Waiters (Oklahoma City Thunder), among others.

(All salary figures via spotrac.com and all stats via nba.com)