Top NBA free-agent point guards: Does Damian Lillard have any value on the open market? - Yahoo Sports
Damian Lillard being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks under the stretch provision certainly changes the landscape for the Bucks, who used the flexibility to sign free-agent center Myles Turner.
But how does Lillard's availability affect the free-agent market? After all, he is an undersized guard who is rehabbing an Achilles tear, and he'll be 36 when he returns for the 2026-27 season.
As Yahoo Sports senior writer Dan Devine put it:
"It’s a brutal twist of the knife for Lillard, who finally pushed his way out of Portland after 11 seasons as the Trail Blazers’ standard-bearer in pursuit of greener championship-contending pastures, but whose best-laid plans never came to fruition."
Let's look at the point guard free-agent market.
(Note: Positions are being determined off Basketball-Reference's positional breakdowns, meaning a player will be listed at the position in which he played the most minutes. So if you're looking for James Harden and Kyrie Irving, you'll find them in the shooting guard section.)
Free-agent position rankings: Shooting guards | Small forwards | Power forwards | Centers
1. Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets
Status: Agreed to 2-year, $50 million deal
Since becoming an All-Star in 2022, VanVleet has seen his scoring diminish every year since. That doesn't mean he isn't important to the Rockets as their main facilitator, but almost $45 million for a guy who barely cracked 14 points and didn't even crack 38% shooting overall is a lot.
Given that this year's market flat-out isn't flush with cash, the Rockets were wise to decline the $44.9 million option and negotiate a deal at a lesser price.
2. Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs
Status: Unrestricted free agent
Paul loved his stay in San Antonio, which is worth noting in terms of his future, but the franchise did not make the postseason, which you have to assume is a priority to him.
Also a priority is spending time with his family, which means he's likely exploring all angles. At 40 years old, could one of those options be retirement?
What makes sense: With Paul residing in California, and the Lakers acquiring Luka Dončić this past season, it may make sense to link up with him and LeBron James, the latter of whom is a close friend.
4. Damian Lillard
Status: Unrestricted
Lillard is, unexpectedly, a free agent. He's also rehabbing a torn Achilles, and in NBA years he's about 184. This complicates matters greatly.
Look, here's the deal: The guy is a future Hall of Famer, one of the best shooters in league history, and plenty of teams could use him in 2026-27 when he's available again.
But right now, he shouldn't be a priority. Nor should he prioritize signing with someone as soon as he can.
What makes sense: Take the year off, look at the field in the summer of 2026 and make a call then.
3. Tyus Jones, Orlando Magic
Status: Agreed to one-year, $7 million deal
Jones' plan of signing with the Suns for a starting role and perhaps competing for a title didn't go as planned as Phoenix failed to make the postseason. Could this influence his value? Given that he signed a minimum deal last summer, the arrow only points up.
The 29-year-old remains one of the league's most secure ball-handlers and a strong 3-point shooter (41.4%), which virtually everyone has a use for.
Being a backup point guard on a good Magic team is a fine role for Jones.
4. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
Status: Restricted free agent
The raw numbers make Giddey look like a future All-Star, but the advanced numbers unearth several concerning areas, such as a general shooting inefficiency and defensive issues — two key elements for most highly paid players in today's league.
Chicago, however, appears to love the guy, which raises the question: Will it make him an offer outright, as opposed to letting him go through restricted free agency? If the Bulls jump the gun, that could add several million onto the books.
What makes sense: The Bulls hold all the cards here. Entering free agency believing otherwise could prove catastrophic. Let someone else dictate his market, because odds are good no one will break the bank for him despite the headline-grabbing stats.
5. Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies
Status: Agreed to three-year, $28 million deal
There's no question Jerome turned in one of the most surprising seasons of any player in the league, as he carved out a role for himself on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, thus significantly raising his own value.
Jerome will add depth and shooting to the Grizzlies' backcourt as they retool around the newly extended Jaren Jackson Jr.
Best of the rest
6. Malcolm Brogdon, Washington Wizards
Status: Unrestricted free agent
The 32-year-old is efficient and effective when on the floor, but his injury history indicates his floor time will be limited. Teams are keenly aware of this, so while he'll have several suitors, don't expect anyone to hand out a large contract. He'd make an interesting fit with the Lakers as a backup to Luka Dončić.
7. D'Angelo Russell, Dallas Mavericks
Status: Agreed to two-year, $13 million deal
Russell has reached the point in his career, where the secret is out. He's not year-to-year consistent in his performance, and his defensive warts remain substantial. He can score a bit, shoot a bit and pass a bit, but rarely put it all together.
8. Dennis Schröder, Sacramento Kings
Status: Agreed to three-year, $45 million deal
Schröder is capable, he's fast and he can get you points if you need them, even if you need them at a scaled up capacity.
However, he remains an iffy shooter, his defense isn't what it once was, and he's getting older.
