James Harden and the Clippers are sticking together.
Harden declined his player option Sunday and agreed to a two-year, $81.5 million contract with L.A., according to ESPN.
Teams began negotiating with free agents at 6 p.m. ET Monday, and shooting guard is perhaps the best position of an unremarkable overall class.
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Let’s dive in and break down the potential top shooting guards in this year’s free-agent market.
(Note: Positions are being determined off Basketball-Reference’s positional breakdowns, meaning a player will be listed at the position in which he played the most minutes. That’s why you’ll find James Harden and Kyrie Irving in the shooting guard section.)
Free-agent position rankings: Point guards | Small forwards | Power forwards | Centers
1. James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers
Status: Agreed to 2-year, $81.5 million contract
Harden silenced plenty of critics by displaying an ability to return to his high-volume ways, which seemed to have deserted him the previous season. That should raise the level of optimism around him despite the fact he’ll be entering next season at 36.
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Additionally, for the first time in a fairly long while, it appears Harden has found a home in which he’s comfortable and has found some stability. The short-term deal with a player option for next season makes perfect sense for both sides.
2. Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
Status: Agreed to 3-year, $119 million contract
Irving would have been first on the list had it not been for the ACL tear he suffered, which raises questions about his future, given that he’s 33 and often relies on speedy dribbles and shifty changes of direction to gain separation.
Then there’s the added drama of being in Dallas, an organization that traded Luka Dončić and then won the NBA Draft Lottery. Does it make sense for Irving to rehab for a year and then join 19-year-old Cooper Flagg? Apparently Dallas thinks it does.
3. Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers
Status: Restricted free agent
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The numbers don’t do Grimes justice, as he averaged nearly 22 points per game after his midseason trade to Philadelphia. The sweet-shooting guard displayed a previously unknown ability to create consistent looks off the dribble, putting him in a tier or two higher than most originally had him in.
He’s a player who should be receiving plenty of attention and interest from the outside, but given how the market is overall low on available money, this gives the Sixers a significant advantage.
What makes sense: Grimes could sign a shorter deal with the Sixers to give him an easier out in a few seasons. Given the contract complications of Joel Embiid and Paul George, the future is on extremely shaky ground, so having an out wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
4. Malik Beasley, Detroit Pistons
Status: Unrestricted free agent
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Beasley’s free-agent market could shift dramatically in the wake of ESPN reporting that the U.S. District Attorney’s office is investigating him on allegations “of gambling related to NBA games and prop bets.”
Prior to the news, the Pistons had proved to be the right fit for Beasley, who was dangerously close to entering “perpetual journeyman” territory. He signed just a one-year contract last offseason, outplayed it spectacularly, and the Pistons have two options to keep him: find a way to create cap space to sign him into that, or see if he’ll bite on the non-tax MLE.
What makes sense: ESPN reported that Beasley and the Pistons had been in talks on a three-year, $42 million contract but those negotiations are now “on pause.” Beasley’s NBA future now hinges on the outcome of the investigation and whether he is actually charged on the allegations.
5. Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets
Status: Restricted free agent
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Look, opinions differ greatly on Thomas due to his lack of size, shaky defense and the fact he isn’t much of a playmaker. But one thing that should be indisputable is his ability to put the ball through the damn rim.
The question with Thomas should exclusively center around his future role. Is he a starting 2-guard or a high-volume sixth man with the potential to drop 20 off the bench for years to come? The answer to that question will heavily influence his compensation level.
What makes sense: Thomas, 23, will seek starter money, but the Nets aren’t in a position to know whether that will be his long-term role. They should squeeze as hard as they can, if only to make him more attractive on the trade market within the next few years. Thomas and his team could respond by arguing for a richer contract that runs for a shorter term, such as two years. That should satisfy both parties.
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Best of the rest
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks
Status: Agreed to four-year, $62 million deal
Alexander-Walker is a formidable two-way role player who has become more consistent with his 3-point shot. Nevertheless, he is still a role player who will likely be overtaxed as a starter.
Bruce Brown, Denver Nuggets
Status: Agreed to one-year deal
Since winning the championship with Denver in 2023, Brown, 28, has seemed lost while he’s been touring the NBA. With his large contract now concluded, making his return to Denver to play alongside Nikola Jokić is a strong outcome. The all-around connector still has age on his side, and he could greatly rehab his value in a familiar system.
Keon Ellis, Sacramento Kings
Status: Team option (but less straightforward)
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The Kings can either decline his option and see him enter restricted free agency this season, or they can pick up the option and hope to extend him when he becomes eligible on Feb. 9, 2026.
The safe bet is restricted free agency, as Ellis can otherwise decline any extension and head into the summer of 2026 as an unrestricted free agent.
