The Beal Deal and Ranking The Top Shooting Guards Set To Hit Free Agency

Austin Reaves made himself A LOT of money during the Lakers' postseason run...

Before we continue our free agency rankings, a quick word on the blockbuster deal sending Bradley Beal to the Suns for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and a bevy of second-round picks.

First, as I detailed last week, it made no sense for the Knicks to get involved in the Beal sweepstakes. So, it's good news that he's headed to Phoenix. Taking on the $207 million remaining on his contract would be an unwise and unnecessary gamble for a Knicks franchise that is finally well-situated presently and in the future. Ultimately, the Wizards had to accept a package that looked lopsided at first glance. Yet, in some respects, Wizards fans should be happy Washington didn't have to attach a first-round pick to get off of Beal's deal (which is why I considered it laughable when folks tried to argue New York might part with RJ and/or IQ along with multiple first-round picks for the right to overpay Beal). 

With Washington dumping Beal, it's clear they are about to embark on a rebuild. And with the Wiz in Tank Mode, it could impact the pick Washington owes to New York (which the Knicks acquired as part of the deal with OKC for the 11th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft). 

Here are the protections on the first-round pick the Wiz owe to the Knicks:
2024: Top-12 protected
2025: Top-10 protected (if the pick is not conveyed the previous year)
2026: Top-8 protected (if the pick is not conveyed the previous year)

If Washington has not conveyed a first-round pick to New York by 2026, then Washington will instead convey its 2026 2nd round pick and 2027 second-round pick to New York.

It certainly seems highly unlikely the Wiz will finish outside the top-12 next season or outside the top 10 in 2024-25, but a realistic projection three years from now is complex, so there's a chance New York gets a late lottery selection that year. We'll see how it all plays out. 

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Okay, now let's look ahead to July… 

Last week I ranked the top point guards set to hit the open market next month. Today, I break down the best shooting guards expected to enter free agency this summer. 

1. Austin Reaves - Los Angeles Lakers - Restricted:

Reeves made himself A LOT of money during the Lakers' postseason run, as he averaged 16.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.4 made three-pointers while slashing 46/44/90%. That's especially impressive, considering it was his first taste of the playoffs. Consider this: Reaves is one of only nine players in NBA history to tally at least 250 points, 50 rebounds, 50 assists and 20 three-pointers over 15 games in his first postseason. The other eight players in this club are LeBron, Devin Booker, Paul Pierce, Jokic, Vince Carter, Jamal Murray, Mike Bibby and Dame Lillard.

2. Gary Trent Jr. - Toronto Raptors - Player Option:

Trent Jr. is expected to opt out of his $18.8 million 2023-24 option with the Raptors after averaging 17.4 points and 2.5 made treys per game this past season. For his career, he has shot 38.4% from downtown and 83% from the free-throw stripe. 

3. Bruce Brown - Denver Nuggets - Player Option:

The Nuggets made one of the shrewdest free agent signings of the year in 2022 when they scooped up Brown for just $6.5 million. After proving his worth as an important contributor off the Nuggets' bench during their championship run, Brown is expected to decline his player option worth $6.8 million. The issue for Denver is the most Denver can offer him is $7.8 million.