NBA free agency is upon us once again and while the class of 2022 is not as star-studded as in years past, there are a number of notable names that could be on the move.
While it might seem like a foregone conclusion that the biggest names will stay put, you can never rule out a trade or a last-minute change.
MORE: 7 players most likely to be traded this offseason?
The Sporting News is here to provide you with positional breakdowns for all the best players available in free agency. Each list is crafted off of Stephen Noh's 25 best players in free agency, with our writers filling in the blanks by position beyond the players he listed.
Perimeter production is an important component of a successful franchise. As such, we've ranked each of the top shooting guards in this year's free-agent class. Below, find a full list of the top nine, from Zach LaVine to Gary Harris.
(Note: If you're looking for James Harden, head to SN's ranking of top free-agent point guards.)
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NBA free agency 2022: Shooting guard rankings
1. Zach LaVine | Status: Unrestricted free agent | Age: 27
LaVine is, without a doubt, the biggest fish in this free agency class. He is coming off the second All-Star appearance of his career, posting averages of 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as the Bulls ended a five-year postseason drought.
MORE: Zach LaVine free agency: Best fits for Bulls star
There may be more accomplished members of this class, but LaVine being 27 means some of his best years are still ahead of him. LaVine will command a max contract and Chicago will be the team to give it to him, as Bleacher Report's Blake Fischer reports that LaVine is expected to re-sign with the Bulls.
LaVine can sign a five-year max deal worth roughly $212 million to stay in Chicago.
2. Bradley Beal | Status: $34.6 million player option | Age: 28
Time flies as Beal is preparing for his 11th season in the NBA, the first 10 of which have come as a member of the Wizards.
A wrist injury cut Beal's 2021-22 short and while he wasn't as efficient as he's come to be during his career, Beal managed to average 23.2 points, a career-high 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds over 40 games.
While Beal is owed just under $35 million next season, he is expected to opt out and re-sign a five-year max contract worth at least $246 million.
Update: Beal has declined his player option
3. Anfernee Simons | Status: Restricted free agent | Age: 23
Simons is a rising talent in this league, so don't be surprised when he is compensated as such.
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The former dunk champ is coming off of a breakout season in which he averaged 17.3 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 40.5 percent from 3-point range. Portland's deadline trade of CJ McCollum made way for a Damian Lillard-Simons backcourt of the future, which is exciting for a team that has acquired Jerami Grant and drafted Shaedon Sharpe this offseason.
Portland will make sure to retain Simons to continue to build.
4. Collin Sexton | Status: Restricted free agent | Age: 23
Sexton is where this list gets interesting.
11 games into the 2021-22 season, Sexton suffered a season-ending meniscus injury, but the Cavaliers were largely unaffected. Cleveland spent time atop the East standings before injuries to its frontcourt rotation derailed its playoff push.
With Darius Garland assuming lead guard responsibilities, the Cavs also have Caris LeVert and rookie Ochai Agbaji playing significant roles on the perimeter. Sexton is just one season removed from averaging 24.3 points per game but might not command what he's worth on the open market. A return to Cleveland could delay a trade that's beginning to seem inevitable.
5. Malik Monk | Status: Unrestricted free agent | Age: 24
Monk signed a prove-it deal with the Lakers in 2021 and he proved himself during the 2021-22 season with averages of 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 76 games (37 starts).
The five-year veteran was one of LA's few young talents and, while he could command a respectable payday, has expressed a willingness to take less money for the continuity of remaining with the Lakers, according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha.
6. Victor Oladipo | Status: Unrestricted free agent | Age: 30
Oladipo looks to put the past few years of injury misfortune behind him to get back to contributing at a high level.
He was limited to eight regular-season games in 2021-22, but Oladipo had some impactful performances during the Heat's run to the East Finals. According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, Oladipo could command the mid-level exception of between $6.4 and $10.3 million annually, but Miami can exceed the cap to re-sign him.
7. Gary Payton II | Status: Unrestricted free agent | Age: 29
The champ is here. After almost falling completely out of the league, Payton has earned the billing of a top free agent thanks to his defensive prowess and all-around sticktoitiveness.
Golden State will want to run it back after last season, but a pricy salary table could prevent that from happening. If the Warriors are unable to retain Payton, he'll certainly be in command. Everyone can use a staunch perimeter defender.
8. Donte DiVincenzo | Status: Unrestricted free agent | Age: 25
DiVincenzo was a key contributor in Milwaukee but with a big payday on the horizon, he was dealt to Sacramento last season.
In 25 games with the Kings, DiVincenzo came off the bench in all but one, causing some displeasure between him and the franchise. Sacramento is looking to end its 16-year playoff drought and if they so choose, they can match any offer that DiVincenzo signs. Conversely, they could follow the precedent set with Bogdan Bogdanovic's free agency some years ago to renounce DiVincenzo's rights and let him walk.
Update: The Kings didn't extend a qualifying offer to DiVincenzo, making him an unrestricted free agent
MORE: Kings draft selection evokes bad memories of past NBA Draft duds, but isn't surprising
9. Gary Harris | Status: Unrestricted free agent | Age: 27
While it seems like Harris has been in the league forever, he won't turn 28 until September. After being moved from Denver to Orlando, he continued to produce, averaging 11.1 points last season for a guard-heavy Magic team.
Harris is the type of player that can immediately contribute to a contending team, which is something he might have to do on a prove-it deal or a mid-level exception.
