Top free-agent point guards
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Sean Deveney /
Posted: 1 hour ago

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2552454

This is a pretty deep position for free agents, though many on this list (indeed, in the league) play more like shooting guards than point guards. Nash, Barry and Crawford are the creme.


The Mavericks would like to keep Steve Nash. (Rocky Widner / AllSport)

Steve Nash, Mavericks
Nash is one of the focal points of the free-agent market, arguably the No. 2 or 3 player available. He does an excellent job of running the Mavs' fast-paced offense, makes relatively few turnovers, and is coming off a year in which he dished out a career-high 8.8 assists. He's a terrific shooter for a guard, with a .465 career shooting percentage and .416 3-point percentage. He's also 30, though he has shown no signs of slowing down. The Mavericks want to keep him, but the Suns are expected to make a pitch, too.

Brent Barry, Sonics
Barry is not a pure point guard, but he is versatile enough to handle the roll, and does well when paired with an off-guard who can handle the ball. He's an excellent shooter, and wound up with a .504 shooting percentage last year. The Sonics have been trying to sign Barry to an extension, and the fact that they passed up some good guards in the draft may be a sign that they think they can keep him. But the team is reluctant to give Barry, 33, a long-term deal. The Celtics, Clippers or Suns might be willing to do so. Barry is tops on the Warriors' wish list.

Jamal Crawford, Bulls
The Bulls say they want to keep Crawford, and he says he wants to stay. Yet, the team keeps drafting guards. Crawford is another guy who is more off-guard than point guard, and though he averaged 5.1 assists, he certainly prefers shooting to passing. Crawford is a restricted free agent, so the Bulls can match any offer up to the mid-level exception. The Bulls would choose to keep him at that price, and the Knicks, who have long wanted Crawford, might make such an offer. But if the Nuggets, Suns or Sonics (Crawford's hometown team) came in with a bigger offer, the Bulls probably would let him go.

Troy Hudson, Timberwolves
Hudson missed 53 games last year, and, like Barry and Crawford, he is more shooting guard than point guard. And at that, he is only a .405 career shooter from the field. But Hudson had a breakout season in 2002-03, and teams have not forgotten that. The Timberwolves will make a pitch to keep Hudson, but the Raptors, Bobcats or Rockets will have interest, too.

Rafer Alston, Heat
Alston seemed to find his niche as Dwyane Wade's backup in Miami last year, improving as the season went on. He still struggles with his shooting sometimes, but he shot .371 on 3-pointers, slashed his turnovers and became a better playmaker, averaging a career-best 4.5 assists. Miami wants to keep Alston, but the team probably will have to do better than giving him half its midlevel exception.

Damon Jones, Bucks
Jones has been with eight teams in his six years in the league, and he might soon be on his ninth. Jones did a good job backing up T.J. Ford, and filled in nicely for him when Ford went out with a back injury. He had his best season — 7.0 points, 5.8 assists and just 1.26 turnovers. But Jones deserves a raise over the minimum salary he got last year, and the budget-conscious Bucks have other priorities. Jones, who is from Houston, could wind up with the Rockets.

Derek Fisher, Lakers
Fisher picked a bad time to have a terrible season. With the Lakers, his role over the last few years has been as a spot-up shooter on the perimeter, and he had done it well, until he was asked to come off the bench last year. He never made the adjustment, and shot just .291 from the 3-point line. He was a ball hawk, with 1.26 steals in just 21.6 minutes, but overall, he is a defensive liability. The Lakers want to keep him, but Fisher needs to start somewhere to get his shot back. He'll need to play with a shooting guard who can be the playmaker (Houston has been mentioned for that reason).

Lindsey Hunter was a vital cog in the Pistons' championship machine. (Allen Einstein / AllSport)


Lindsey Hunter, Pistons
Hunter did not have a great year and seems to have lost his shooting stroke, but he was solid in the Finals. He now has that championship smell on him (which helps keep aged veterans in the league beyond their usefulness; see: Grant, Horace). Hunter is an active defender, and a return to the Pistons is possible, though he is considering retirement.

Mike James, Pistons
James is a limited playmaker. But he can make perimeter shots in streaks, play pressure defense and did a nice job reducing his mistakes and playing with better control last year. He proved his worth as a backup point man, and there are a number of teams in the market — New Orleans, San Antonio, Golden State. He could even have a shot as a starter in Toronto if the Raptors strike out elsewhere.

Maurice Williams, Jazz
Williams played just 55 games for the Jazz, and his numbers are unimpressive; he scored just 5.0 points per game. But Williams had six games of 15-plus points, and Utah likes the way he can break down defenders and get to the rim, which he does better than Raul Lopez and Carlos Arroyo, Utah's other two point guards. Williams is a restricted free agent, so Utah can and — barring a ridiculous offer — will keep him.
Others: Kenny Anderson, Pacers; Brevin Knight, Bucks; Shammond Williams, Hornets; Carlos Arroyo, Jazz; Rod Strickland, Raptors; Jason Hart, Spurs; Travis Best, Mavericks; Anthony Johnson, Pacers; Jacque Vaughn, Atlanta.