Looking Ahead: A Preview of the 2026 Free Agent Crop - Point Guards
A peek at the top players set to hit the open market next summer…
With the 2025 free agency period in the rear-view mirror, let's take a look at the top players set to hit the open market next summer.
We'll examine each position, but start by ranking the top ten point guards…
1. Trae Young / Atlanta Hawks / Player Option:
Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and several of the other top players from the 2018 draft class (Jaren Jackson Jr, Mikal Bridges) inked long-term extensions this summer. Yet one stud from that draft class remains conspicuous by his absence. The Hawks have been aggressive this offseason, adding Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard, but surprisingly seem unwilling to lock up their All-Star point guard. Jake Fischer at The Stein Line reported earlier this month that Atlanta has balked at offering up max money. Per Fischer, “League sources tell me there are no plans for Young and the Hawks to engage in extension talks this summer… Sources say Young’s side has actually been resigned for some time to the prospect of seeing out the final guaranteed year on his current contract rather than securing an extension.” If Young declines his $49 million player option for 2026-27 next July, he’d become an unrestricted free agent.
2. James Harden / LA Clippers / Player Option:
Harden has remained impressively productive as he creeps into his mid-30s. Last season, he was one of just two guards (and the only guard in the West) to average 20+ points, eight assists and five rebounds and also ranked third in the NBA in point-assist double-doubles (31). Harden had a player option worth $36.3 million for 2025-26, but he declined it and re-upped with the Clippers on a new two-year deal with a $42.3 million PO for 2026-27.
3. Anfernee Simons / Boston Celtics / Unrestricted:
The Celtics traded Jrue Holiday to Portland in exchange for Simons in early July. While Simons is an undeniably gifted scorer, the primary motivation for the move for Boston was to get under the second apron. Thus, there has been and will continue to be plenty of speculation about the C’s flipping Simons, who is in the last year of his contract, before the start of the season.
