Point Guard Options

[Q-is-here]

Grouped by archetype and then from high to low in terms of contract value with annual salary starting this season.

Lead Guards
Anthony Edwards - On Team
Trae Young - $46M, $49M (Player Option)
Ja Morant - $39.5M, $42.2M, $44.9M
Darius Garland - $39.5M, $42.2M, $44.9M
James Harden - $39.2M, $42.3M (Player Option)
LaMelo Ball - $37.9M, $40.7M, $43.5M, $46.4M
Kyrie Irving - $36.6M, $39.5M, $42.4M (Player Option)
DeJounte Murray - $30.8M, $32.8M, $30.8M (Player Option)

Two-Way Starters
Jrue Holiday - $32.4M, $34.8M, $37.2M (Player Option)
Immanuel Quickley - $32.5, $32.5, $32.5, $32.5
Derrick White - $28M, $30.4M, $32.5M, $34.9M (Player Option)
Jalen Suggs - $35M, $32.4M, $29.6M, $26.8M, $26.7M (Team Option)

Shooter/Scorers
Collin Sexton - $18.9M
Coby White - $12.9M
Payton Pritchard - $7.2M, $7.8M, $8.3M
Bones Hyland - On Team

Vet Game Managers
Dennis Schroder - $14.1M, $14.8M, $15.5M
T.J. McConnell - $10.2M, $11M, $11.8M, $11.8M (Team Option)
Mike Conley - On Team
Tre Jones - $8M, $8M, $8M (Team Option)
Tyus Jones - $7M

POA Defenders
Jevon Carter - $6.9M
Kris Dunn - $5.4M, $5.7M
Jose Alvarado - $4.5M, $4.5M (Player Option)
Scotty Pippen, Jr. - $2.3M, $2.5M, $2.8M

[Q-is-here]

I excluded names that will be obviously unavailable (like SGA), but I probably missed some names too that could be available for the right price. I included our own players as well, since among the options out there is to just stick with what we have.

[Phenom]

After much consideration I'm out on high injury risk guys. That takes a good chunk of that list off.

[AussieWolf3]

This list lays pretty bare how the options are either equally risking to standing pat or unattainable.

Pippen is by far the most desirable player imo- considering for talent type, age, and contract- and Memphis ain't trading him.

Im still not sold on Bones so I would down for trying for better backup, and McConnell would be great but you're locked into a pretty long contract for a guy his age.

White would be awesome, but Boston is trying to stay competitive and you'd have trade Julius. Same is true if IQ but to a lesser degree and I'm not as sold on him anymore at the cost of Julius

[60WinTim]

Terrific job identifying and organizing the list of possible PGs, Q. It's fun to think how each might fit in, but I find myself crossing a lot of names off the list!

One factor to consider is "what does it do to the Wolves current rotation?" The most interesting groups are your "Lead Guards" and "Two-Way Starters". The first implication is any of those guys are bumping DDV out of the starting lineup. This means DDV comes off the bench (which would give the bench some punch!), or DDV is used as part of the trade for said player. The second implication is ANT and/or Randle are giving up a share of their playmaking responsibilities. Here are some thoughts on that:

Last year, when Conley was the starter, those three (Conley, ANT and Randle) struggled to make the team successful for a large chunk of the season. Did we have too many playmakers on the floor? Things seemed to improve when Conley was replaced by DDV, but that didn't last long because of injuries. That group finished the season strong, but it was against one of the weaker remaining schedules in the league. The success in the playoffs was against a Lakers team with a hampered Luka and a Warriors team without Steph. And it was finally whipped by OKC.

To start this season, Finch went with just two main playmakers, sending Conley to the bench. Look what happened last night when those three playmakers started in the 2nd half. It was terrible against a terrible team. Finch opted to yank Randle within 2 minutes and 9 seconds. Things took off from there.

While an incredibly small sample size, it reinforces the notion that ANT, Randle and a 3rd main playmaker is a less than ideal option. Which leads me to this conclusion: Randle must be part of any trade that brings in a 3rd playmaker.

My inclination is to stand pat, but every time we get off to a sluggish start in a game, which happens far too frequently, I want to see a change. I'm torn!

[Phenom]

Terrific job identifying and organizing the list of possible PGs, Q. It's fun to think how each might fit in, but I find myself crossing a lot of names off the list!

One factor to consider is "what does it do to the Wolves current rotation?" The most interesting groups are your "Lead Guards" and "Two-Way Starters". The first implication is any of those guys are bumping DDV out of the starting lineup. This means DDV comes off the bench (which would give the bench some punch!), or DDV is used as part of the trade for said player. The second implication is ANT and/or Randle are giving up a share of their playmaking responsibilities. Here are some thoughts on that:

Last year, when Conley was the starter, those three (Conley, ANT and Randle) struggled to make the team successful for a large chunk of the season. Did we have too many playmakers on the floor? Things seemed to improve when Conley was replaced by DDV, but that didn't last long because of injuries. That group finished the season strong, but it was against one of the weaker remaining schedules in the league. The success in the playoffs was against a Lakers team with a hampered Luka and a Warriors team without Steph. And it was finally whipped by OKC.

To start this season, Finch went with just two main playmakers, sending Conley to the bench. Look what happened last night when those three playmakers started in the 2nd half. It was terrible against a terrible team. Finch opted to yank Randle within 2 minutes and 9 seconds. Things took off from there.

While an incredibly small sample size, it reinforces the notion that ANT, Randle and a 3rd main playmaker is a less than ideal option. Which leads me to this conclusion: Randle must be part of any trade that brings in a 3rd playmaker.

My inclination is to stand pat, but every time we get off to a sluggish start in a game, which happens far too frequently, I want to see a change. I'm torn!

Maybe we should really focus on guys who never run cold. Guys like McConnell, Shroeder and Pritchard who always have that high motor with piss n vinegar. They are also cost controlled for the next couple years. But what do the Wolves have that these teams would want? None of them want Conley unless they value a salary dump. Maybe the Pacers would do it to free up cap for keeping Mathurin since they don't like being over the apron.

[Q-is-here]

Terrific job identifying and organizing the list of possible PGs, Q. It's fun to think how each might fit in, but I find myself crossing a lot of names off the list!

One factor to consider is "what does it do to the Wolves current rotation?" The most interesting groups are your "Lead Guards" and "Two-Way Starters". The first implication is any of those guys are bumping DDV out of the starting lineup. This means DDV comes off the bench (which would give the bench some punch!), or DDV is used as part of the trade for said player. The second implication is ANT and/or Randle are giving up a share of their playmaking responsibilities. Here are some thoughts on that:

Last year, when Conley was the starter, those three (Conley, ANT and Randle) struggled to make the team successful for a large chunk of the season. Did we have too many playmakers on the floor? Things seemed to improve when Conley was replaced by DDV, but that didn't last long because of injuries. That group finished the season strong, but it was against one of the weaker remaining schedules in the league. The success in the playoffs was against a Lakers team with a hampered Luka and a Warriors team without Steph. And it was finally whipped by OKC.

To start this season, Finch went with just two main playmakers, sending Conley to the bench. Look what happened last night when those three playmakers started in the 2nd half. It was terrible against a terrible team. Finch opted to yank Randle within 2 minutes and 9 seconds. Things took off from there.

While an incredibly small sample size, it reinforces the notion that ANT, Randle and a 3rd main playmaker is a less than ideal option. Which leads me to this conclusion: Randle must be part of any trade that brings in a 3rd playmaker.

My inclination is to stand pat, but every time we get off to a sluggish start in a game, which happens far too frequently, I want to see a change. I'm torn!

Yeah, Randle or Jaden would need to be traded to land one of those two way PGs and guess which one is in more demand? And that's the hard part...who really wants or needs Julius and is he worth giving up a really good starting PG??? Seems highly unrealistic.

So who here wants to trade Jaden for a starting caliber PG? Anyone? Anyone?

[Q-is-here]

This list lays pretty bare how the options are either equally risking to standing pat or unattainable.

Pippen is by far the most desirable player imo- considering for talent type, age, and contract- and Memphis ain't trading him.

Im still not sold on Bones so I would down for trying for better backup, and McConnell would be great but you're locked into a pretty long contract for a guy his age.

White would be awesome, but Boston is trying to stay competitive and you'd have trade Julius. Same is true if IQ but to a lesser degree and I'm not as sold on him anymore at the cost of Julius

Feels like the vet game managers and POA defenders are the most realistic options.

[thedoper]

Thanks for this list. It is crazy to think how much the PG position has changed in the last 20 years. It seems like Finch is trying to make Rob into an old school PG when they dont even exist anymore.

[Q-is-here]

Thanks for this list. It is crazy to think how much the PG position has changed in the last 20 years. It seems like Finch is trying to make Rob into an old school PG when they dont even exist anymore.

But that's probably the kind of PG that works best with Ant - a high IQ set up guy. Like you said, not many of them out there anymore and they often have other flaws.