The perimeter game has taken over the NBA, as evident by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors' incredible run through the regular season and the NBA playoffs.
The league's point guard position has never been healthier (in terms of pure talent and importance) than it is right now. Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, and Curry have all been MVP candidates or winners. Players like Derrick Rose, Mike Conley, Tony Parker, Damian Lillard, Ty Lawson, Kyrie Irving, Jeff Teague, John Wall, and Kyle Lowry are all integral parts of their respective team's success.
With new point guard prospects coming into the season every year and existing league point guard prospects trying to work their way into the upper tier of starting point guards in the NBA, it's becoming a crowded and saturated position. With the importance being placed on minutes and rest, finding an elite starting point guard and capable backup to keep things moving is key for future success.
Sam Vecenie of CBSSports.com broke down the Top 10 point guard prospects entering the draft with the assumption that D'Angelo Russell of Ohio State is a shooting guard more than a point guard. I agree. He's a lead guard at the 2 more than he is a straight-up point guard. The influx of point guards from this draft class isn't very deep, but there are some important prospects coming into the league.
Emmanuel Mudiay, Jerian Grant, Cameron Payne, Tyus Jones, and even Delon Wright all project to be starting quality point guards. But where do they fit in with the point guard market? Which teams are still looking for a starting point guard of the present and future? Which teams are in search of a quality backup? Let's take a look at the lay of the point guard land in the NBA.
Still in search of a starting point guard (in alphabetical order)
Dallas Mavericks, 21st pick: It's safe to say the Rajon Rondo experiment with Rick Carlisle and the Mavericks didn't work. Rondo wasn't able to regain the form that made him valuable in his top days as a Boston Celtic, and he was increasingly difficult to coach throughout the postseason before an "injury" ended his campaign with the Mavs. The tricky part of this situation is Carlisle's reputation for being hard on point guards.
Rondo wasn't the first PG to have issues with Carlisle. Darren Collison had problems and the marriage with Jason Kidd wasn't always rosy between the two. If they're going to grab one of the top 5 point guard prospects to develop as their starter, they can't miss like they did with the Shane Larkin decision. With the 21st pick at their disposal, someone like Tyus Jones or Delon Wright could be available, which would fit nicely with Monta Ellis as the lead guard. Both prospects can play off the ball and have the size to be a solid defender in the NBA.
Houston Rockets, 18th pick: This situation is a bit tricky because they already have Patrick Beverley. Mr. 94 Feet has been a good pairing with James Harden because his job is to go be a pest on defense, knock down 3-point shots, and not handle the ball too much within the flow of the offense. That's what you need if you're going to have Harden as the lead guard and playmaker. Beverley will be a restricted free agent and there's no telling how Beverley's agent or Daryl Morey will handle that situation.
Getting insurance just in case things go awry for Morey and the Rockets isn't a bad idea. Jerian Grant could be a perfect pairing with Harden because he's more of a playmaker than Beverley, could be a really good defender, and he can shoot. Having him and Beverley splitting point guard minutes, no matter who is the starter, would be good depth for Houston.
Los Angeles Lakers, 2nd and 27th picks: Jordan Clarkson emerged as a nice story for the Lakers in a horrible season, but there are some serious questions about whether he's a point guard, the point guard of the future for the Lakers, or someone who should even be starting for a good team. Having Clarkson as the combo guard off the bench could be the way to go and maximize any potential depth the Lakers can build.
While they could draft D'Angelo Russell with the second pick and use him as a lead/point guard until Kobe Bryant retires, it's assumed they'll take whichever prized big man the Minnesota Timberwolves don't. But with the 27th pick, any of the top five point guards who may fall in the draft would be a perfect selection, especially if they don't have plans to bring Jeremy Lin back. The Lakers could even reach for someone like Terry Rozier or Joseph Young, but that means they're likely to man the backcourt off the bench with Clarkson and see the Lakers chase a point guard (Rondo?) in free agency.
New York Knicks, 4th pick: Is there any way of knowing what Phil Jackson has planned for this draft? Emmanuel Mudiay could be the guy for the fourth selection, and while he doesn't project to be a great player in the Triangle offense, he's the type of big guard who can defend Phil loved as a coach of the Bulls and Lakers. If Mudiay can turn into an acceptable outside shooter, he'd be the best option for the Knicks moving forward. That is if the Knicks don't decide to trade out of the draft for a veteran presence.
Philadelphia 76ers, 3rd pick: The Sixers do have the 2014 Rookie of the Year at the point gua... oh, never mind. They traded him at the deadline this past season. Without Michael Carter-Williams in their development program, the Sixers once again need a point guard of the future. If they resist the urge to grab Russell with the third pick to be their lead guard, it seems unlikely they'd go the way of Mudiay instead of grabbing an intriguing big man prospect. The Sixers have a lot of second round picks to round out the backcourt and one of them could end up starting for the Sixers next season. But I'd wager on Russell being their de facto point guard for quite some time.
Sacramento Kings, 6th pick: The Kings could end up trying to bring in Mudiay with the sixth pick or they could end up trying to bring Ty Lawson into the mix to reunite him with George Karl. Whatever the call is, the Kings could use a great point guard to run Karl's fast-paced system and move Darren Collison to a reserve role or as the off-guard in two-point guard lineups throughout the games like he played with Chris Paul in Los Angeles. The Kings have plenty of options here, but don't be shocked if they decide to keep Collison for now and put Willie Cauley-Stein next to DeMarcus Cousins for the next decade.
Utah Jazz, 12th pick: Is Dante Exum their point guard of the future or their off-guard of the future? Will Trey Burke eventually learn how to be an efficient scorer and shot-maker at the point guard position? What are the Jazz's plans for the point guard position because there are options but they have a lot of question marks too? It's unlikely they'd take a point guard prospect for the third straight year in the lottery, but you never know.
In need of a quality backup point guard (in alphabetical order)
Charlotte Hornets, 9th pick: With Kemba Walker as the long-term starting point guard, you're unlikely to use a lottery pick on a position of not much need. The Hornets have the 39th pick, as well, and someone like Rozier, Olivier Hanlan, or Andrew Harrison could be a great selection to push Brian Roberts for minutes at backup point guard.
Chicago Bulls, 22nd pick: The health and impact Derrick Rose showed during the playoffs were very important to feeling good about the future of his time with the Bulls. But with Kirk Hinrich at the end of his frayed rope and Aaron Brooks as a free agent, Fred Hoiberg and management will need a capable backup. If Tyus Jones is available, he'd be perfect. Delon Wright would be a great option too unless the Bulls decide they want a veteran at the backup position.
Cleveland Cavaliers, 24th pick: The Cavs like having Matthew Dellavedova around, but he's probably not the playmaking backup point guard they're looking for. Assuming they don't have their sights set on Norris Cole in free agency (he's part of LeBron James' La Familia, after all) and they're not able to move Brendan Haywood's contract with the 24th pick for a veteran, you have to think Wright is in play here if he's available.
Denver Nuggets, 7th pick: The Nuggets may need a backup for Ty Lawson. They may end up trading Lawson for another lottery pick and need a starting point guard altogether. It's hard to project the direction this team is headed or planning on going in the near future. They have plenty of options on the roster with Randy Foye, Ian Clark, and Erick Greene, but finding someone with a second lottery pick (move up to get Mudiay?) if they deal Lawson could create plenty of competition for minutes next season.
Indiana Pacers, 11th pick: The Pacers have George Hill as the starting point guard for now, but the idea of grabbing his replacement and even moving Hill to the off-guard at times to concentrate on scoring is an idea being kicked around. The selection would then probably be Cameron Payne, whose stock has been soaring all over draft boards and mock draft scenarios. Even if they select Payne to be the backup to Hill for now, the two years left on Hill's contract make it a perfect scenario for grabbing Payne as the backup now and making him the starter by 2017.
Los Angeles Clippers, no picks: Is Austin Rivers the future backup point guard behind Chris Paul or will he simply be the combo guard off the bench once Jamal Crawford is off the team? With CP3's health during the season often a concern, having a reliable backup is key for the Clippers. However, them trading or buying their way into the draft seems unlikely because Doc Rivers is more likely to find a veteran backup point guard.
Memphis Grizzlies, 25th pick: Nick Calathes and Beno Udrih's futures with the team could be in question. Calathes could be a restricted free agent or headed back to Europe. Udrih's deal isn't fully guaranteed for next season. The Grizzlies may turn their draft attention toward insurance in case Kosta Koufos leaves in free agency, but if Wright falls to 25th, it may be hard to avoid taking him as Conley's backup.
Minnesota Timberwolves, 1st pick: The Wolves aren't taking a point guard with the first pick (save your David Kahn jokes), but with the 31st and 36th picks in the draft, they could be looking for a strong backup to Ricky Rubio. Zach LaVine found some late success as the point guard in his rookie season but most of his best play came as a 2-guard. The Wolves won't use both second round picks but grabbing someone like Rozier to compete for backup minutes is likely.
New Orleans Pelicans, no picks: Norris Cole is a free agent this summer and Jrue Holiday's health has been disappointing the last two seasons. The Pelicans will want a strong point guard situation with Alvin Gentry coming to coach them, so making sure they grab some depth is important. They'd have to buy or trade their way into the draft though, since they don't have any picks.
Oklahoma City Thunder, 14th pick: The Thunder may have their eyes on Payne at 14 if he's available, making D.J. Augustin expendable this offseason. Reggie Jackson ended up being a big disappointment for the Thunder over the last season, so they want to find a backup point guard to help Russell Westbrook not have to do so much on the court.
Orlando Magic, 5th pick: Elfrid Payton looks to be the point guard of the future and he had a fantastic rookie season. They need to give him a proper backup moving forward. There's no way they use the fifth pick on a backup point guard in the draft but perhaps they can move some assets to get into the later part of the first round if there's someone they covet. Otherwise, look for them to address that position in free agency.
Phoenix Suns, 13th pick: Eric Bledsoe is their star guard and Brandon Knight will be a restricted free agent for them. They'd likely play both in the same backcourt together if they retain Knight, but they'll still need a backup at the position. That's probably not happening with the 13th pick, unless they fall in love with someone like Grant out of Notre Dame, but their pick in the middle of the second round could net a possibility there.
Washington Wizards, 19th pick: The Wizards have Ramon Sessions, who can serve as a decent backup point guard for now, but they'll probably want a more dynamic option in the future. For now, expect them to dress depth issues inside and on the wings with their first round pick.
