5 point guards Wizards could target in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The Wizards enter free agency on Thursday at 6 p.m. with an obvious need at point guard. They may need multiple players at that position.
Here is a look at five options they could target when free agency opens…
2021-22 stats: 8.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.4 rpg, 0.9 spg, 45.1% FG/39.0% 3PT/81.8% FT
Age: 26
2021-22 contract: $7.5M
Jones raised his stock quite a bit this season while filling in for Ja Morant and then during the playoffs where he was a key contributor. He’s likely to get a starting job if he leaves Memphis and would help the Wizards fill their needs for defense and outside shooting. Jones shot a career-best 39.0% from long range last season and is on a trajectory that suggests he could continue to improve in the years to come. It would not be a surprise if two years from now he was not only making threes at a high percentage, but in greater volume than the 2.8 attempts he averaged last season.
In signing Jones, the Wizards would have to consider his size (6-feet) alongside Bradley Beal and they would also have to make sure they can afford him. It’s difficult to gauge what he will earn on his next deal, but it may require a sign-and-trade for Washington. His lack of size could be mitigated by the fact the Wizards’ frontcourt has plenty of height, not only with Kristaps Porzingis but with a collection of tall forwards like Kyle Kuzma and Deni Avdija.
Collin Sexton, Cavaliers
2021-22 stats: 16.0 ppg, 2.1 apg, 3.3 rpg, 0.9 spg, 45.0% FG/24.4% 3PT/74.4% FT
Age: 23
2021-22 contract: $6.4M
Sexton may present the most upside on this list. His 2021-22 numbers don’t do him justice as a player, as they were affected by a small sample size (11 games) and injuries. He has been a much better shooter in previous years, with a career 3-point percentage of 37.8%. That would have to interest the Wizards, who made the fewest threes of any team last season.
Sexton, though, is more of a scoring point guard and the style he plays doesn’t align with how team president Tommy Sheppard and head coach Wes Unseld Jr. have described their ideal floor general. Sexton is also not big for the position, at 6-foot-1, or a standout defender. But perhaps they can overlook those traits and maybe compensate in other areas of the roster to rationalize bringing in a player as talented as he is.
Jalen Brunson, Mavericks
2021-22 stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.9 rpg, 0.8 spg, 50.2% FG/37.3%…