Shooting is a coveted trait in the NBA. Luckily for shooting-needy teams, there will be plenty of it available this offseason, specifically at the shooting guard position. The two-guard spot is arguably the deepest when it comes to 2024 free agents, and in this article, we are going to rank the top 15 shooting guards set to hit the open market.
This offseason, the free agent negotiation period starts on Sunday, June 30 at 6 p.m. Players will be free to sign contracts starting at 12:01 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 6. The nice thing about shooters is they will always have a home in the NBA, so each of these following players will likely find a new home or sign a new contract with their old teams sooner rather than later. There isn't much star power at this position available this offseason, but each of these players will be highly coveted.
15. Talen Horton-Tucker: Utah Jazz, UFA
Along with the next player on this list, the Jazz are at risk of losing two rotation-caliber shooting guards. While neither Talen Horton-Tucker nor Kris Dunn are likely to give you heavy minutes at this point, they both can fill a niche for a team willing to sign them in free agency. For Horton-Tucker, that is as an energy player off of the bench who can score in bunches.
14. Kris Dunn: Utah Jazz, UFA
Although he was drafted as a point guard, Kris Dunn has spent more time off the ball in recent years. Although he is often viewed as a draft bust, he has found a role as a defensive specialist.
13. Alec Burks: New York Knicks, UFA
Alec Burks isn't a star, but he can do a little bit of everything on the basketball court. The Knicks have a handful of players hitting the open market this offseason, so they might have to pick and choose who they can afford to bring back. Luckily, Burks is unlikely to demand a huge contract.
12. Lonnie Walker IV: Brooklyn Nets, UFA
Lonnie Walker has gone under the radar in recent seasons, but he has quietly been a productive role player. This past season for the Brooklyn Nets was Walker's first season in four years where he didn't score in the double figures. Even then, he still managed to put up 9.7 points per game.
11. Gary Harris: Orlando Magic, UFA
Gary Harris has 443 career starts to his name, and he isn't even 30 years old yet, so it may come as a surprise that he ranks outside of our top 10 best free agent shooting guards in 2024, especially considering the Michigan State product shined at times for an up-and-coming Magic team last season. Harris is a capable shooter and defender. It is health that is the concern with him. He has only played over 60 games three times in his 10-year career. He can help a team's rotation out, but you have to bank on him missing 20-plus games.
10. Luke Kennard: Memphis Grizzlies, team option
Luke Kennard has been given the nickname Nuke Kennard, and rightfully so, as the shooting guard hits bombs from deep. Kennard, who has a team option on his contract for next season, has twice led the league in three-point percentage. The Grizzlies could use all the spacing they can get, considering their point guard, Ja Morant, is one of the best penetrators in the league. Additionally, Memphis was depleted by injuries this last season, so they'd be smart to keep their depth in case the injury bug bites again.
9. De'Anthony Melton: Philadelphia 76ers, UFA
With so many guards focusing on offense in the modern NBA, elite point-of-attack defensive minded guards have become very valuable. Even after a down year which was filled with injuries, De'Anthony Melton will still have a market because of his defensive abilities.
8. Isaiah Joe: Oklahoma City Thunder, team option
Isaiah Joe has been vital for the Thunder's spacing as they've gone from a rebuilding team to legitimate contenders. Even though Oklahoma City has great depth, they should pick up Joe's team option. That team option would pay him just over $2 million next season, and good players aren't usually available for that cheap.
7. Malik Beasley: Milwaukee Bucks, UFA
Malik Beasley is a three-point specialist, but he actually has a little bit more than that to his game. Beasley has shot at least eight threes every season since 2019-20, and he even hit 41.3 percent of his deep balls this year, but he is also an incredible athlete capable of putting the ball on the floor and finishing above the rim.
6. Gary Trent Jr.: Toronto Raptors, UFA
Like Joe and Beasley, Gary Trent Jr. is best as a long range shooter. However, he also has some self creation ability and a nice mid-range shot. The Raptors are in the midst of a rebuild, so it will be interesting to see if they prioritize bringing Trent back into the fold.
5. Malik Monk: Sacramento Kings, UFA
All signs point to Malik Monk getting a bag this offseason. The Sixth Man of the Year runner-up is one of the best spark-plug off-the-bench scorers in the NBA. Some team may even be willing to give him a shot as a starter. Monk is one of the most likely 2024 free agents to suit up for a new team next year.
4. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Denver Nuggets, player option
The Nuggets lost Bruce Brown in free agency last year, so they won't want to lose their other shooting guard from their 2023 championship run this year. Luckily for Denver fans, all signs point to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope returning to the Nuggets. He fits perfectly on the team as their fifth offensive option and their best perimeter defender.
3. Bruce Brown: Toronto Raptors, team option
Bruce Brown got a bigger contract than anyone expected last year, but that is the very reason he may end up looking for a new contract this offseason. Brown was a vital part of the Nuggets championship in 2023, and he received a two-year, $45 million contract with the Indiana Pacers because of it.
It took a big payday for the Pacers to be able to pry Brown away from Denver, but they ended up being forced to use him as trade bait to bring in Pascal Siakam. Brown ended up with the Raptors as a part of the Siakam deal, and it is unknown how the rebuilding team feels about him. They could keep him around as a veteran leader, but his average annual value may be more than Toronto wants to pay.
The Raptors have a team option on Brown, so they have options. Whoever he plays for next year will be getting a versatile chess piece who can contribute to winning in a number of different ways.
2. Buddy Hield: Philadelphia 76ers, UFA
We ranked Buddy Hield as the 13th-best free agent, regardless of position, and that is because of one trait: three-point shooting. Hield isn't elite at much else, but he is undeniably one of the best deep-ball shooters in the NBA. Hield's knockdown ability from beyond the arc has made him a popular trade target over the years, but now he will have the opportunity to sign wherever he so chooses.
1. Klay Thompson: Golden State Warriors, UFA
Klay Thompson has won four championships and is one of the best shooters ever, but he has shown signs of regression since his battle with various knee/lower body injuries. This past season was Thompson's worst as a scorer (17.9 points per game) since his sophomore campaign and the worst complete season of his career when it comes to three point efficiency (38.7%).
Even so, Thompson is an elite shooter, and that is valuable in the NBA. He still ranks as the best upcoming free agent shooting guard because of his proven track record in the NBA, and his struggles might have been blown out of proportion last year. Shooting isn't something that usually regresses with aging, so it is very possible that the five-time All-Star will shoot at a level closer to his career averages next year.
It would be weird to see Thompson not wearing a Warriors jersey, but he will surely have a massive market in free agency. Golden State has some salary cap concerns, so another team may be able to outbid them for Thompson's services.
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