Breaking Down The Free Agent Field: Part III

Rockets.com examines available guards with help of advance scout

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff

Houston - That didn't take long.

Little more than 24 hours into this summer's free agent extravaganza, NBA teams and players are already setting a furious pace to the proceedings. Opening day saw Detroit agree to terms with both Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, while the rumor mill is constantly churning regarding hot names like Hedo Turkoglu, , Marcin Gortat, Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest.

So while we await the latest bit of breaking news, let's continue our stroll through the names available on the open market this summer.

In case you need to catch up: On Tuesday we went over the free agent bigs and Wednesday saw us focus on the players who earn their living out on the wings. Today, we're concluding our three-part series by examining the available guards. As always, the expert analysis comes courtesy of Rockets' advance scout Pat Zipfel, and what you're about to read is lifted straight from the pages of the scouting report he compiles for every player in the league.

Jason Kidd (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Big point guard with exceptional floor sense and passing ability. He is an exceptional rebounder from the guard position. He will trigger the break and look to pass the ball up the floor. He plays the passing lanes well. A constant threat to throw lob passes to their streaking wings. Excellent help defense.

Jason says: A sure-fire Hall of Famer, Kidd remains a very effective player even at the ripe old age of 36. There's no question he can still do a lot of things to help a team win, but there's also no denying the fact that quick point guards can carve him up on the defensive end. New York is reportedly making a push for his services, but the smart money has him staying in Dallas given the fact it's doubtful he'd want to be part of a major rebuilding project at this point in his career - no matter how tempting the bright lights of MSG may be - and Mavs' owner Mark Cuban is, after all, the man who conjured up the numbers (however dubious) which made Kidd out to be one the league's most valuable players last season.

Mike Bibby (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Excellent pick and roll player who comes off looking to shoot the ball. Loves to shoot the ball in transition. Has excellent cross over dribble to the rim. Can be explosive with the ball in spurts. Passes well. On post feed- he will run split and look to come off for shot.

Jason says: Another point guard who's past his prime, but still effective. Bibby isn't your prototypical playmaker at the point position, but then again, he doesn't pretend to be. He knows his strengths and weaknesses and does his best with what he has within the context of those limitations. Will Atlanta re-sign him? The answer to that question might be more an issue of contract length, as opposed to overall amount.

Andre Miller (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Strong, physical point guard who is an excellent rebounder. Floor general, pushes the ball and sets the tempo. Moves very well without the ball and likes to slip screens and is a good cutter. Very strong going to the basket and will find the open man. Can score in the post and looks to post smaller guards. Defends multiple positions.

Jason says: Miller is 33 years old, but seems to be getting better with age as he's coming off the two best seasons of his career, not to mention a postseason performance during which he elevated his game - albeit in a losing effort - against Orlando. The latest buzz has him leaning toward leaving Philadelphia, but it's tough to know what to make of that news given the absence of well-defined suitors at this point.

Ramon Sessions (Restricted)

Zipfel says: Athletic player who is an excellent rebounder from the guard spot. Runs the floor well. His athleticism and size are his best skill, especially as a point guard. Capable as a scorer. He is a very good on the ball defensively and can move his feet.

Jason says: Sessions might not be a household name among the general public, but hardcore NBA fans have been watching him closely for more than a year now. No, he can't hit the three, but he knows how to run an offense, can finish at the rim and, best of all, is only 23 years of age. Milwaukee wants to keep him and will have the right to match any offer, but the Bucks aren't exactly flush with cash so it is possible that an enterprising team out there could potentially pry this gifted young player out of Wisconsin and into their own starting lineup.

Raymond Felton (Restricted)

Zipfel says: Solidly built, penetrating, scoring point guard. Possesses good ball handling skills, will look to push the ball and drive to the basket in transition. Strong driving right to the basket, will shoot pull-up using right-to-left crossover, has good body control, the ability to draw contact + get to the line, and can finish at the basket. Solid on the ball defender, will pressure + rebounds. He likes to split pick and roll action.

Jason says: Michael Jordan has gone on record and said Charlotte will keep Felton, but if some team offers the 25-year old point guard more than the midlevel, one has to wonder if the Bobcats will match. Felton is a streaky shooter with a funky shooting stroke which may prevent him from ever being as consistent from the outside as teams would like. But if he can ever work the kinks out, some team would find itself the proud owner of a very productive point guard.

Nate Robinson (Restricted)

Zipfel says: Little guard who plays with much energy and emotion. He has good strength and stays low and is athletic enough to finish near the rim. Has a good change of direction dribble and is constantly seeking to push the tempo.

Jason says: Might Mouse type player who burst onto the national scene by stealing Dwight Howard's spotlight at this year's slam dunk contest. Robinson is a fan favorite who can catch fire and light up the scoreboard - in a way, he's sort of a poor man's Ben Gordon. And, similar to Gordon, is probably best suited to a 6th man role in which he comes off the bench to provide instant offense for some team's second unit.

Ronald Murray (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Strong, scoring minded combo guard. Will get out on the break, has a quick first step right, and is very streaky. Plays physical, aggressive, on the ball defense. Capable of playing both guard positions. Drives hard right and will attack the basket to his strong right hand.

Jason says: Another instant offense guy off the bench who never met a shot he didn't like. In other words, if some team is looking for scoring punch for its second unit, but doesn't want to pay the Nate Robinson premium, this could be your guy.

Dahntay Jones (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Athletic swingman, who jumps well, runs the floor, and is a strong finisher at the basket. He loves to drive the ball to the rim. Goes to the offensive glass. Plays very hard, good on the ball defender with excellent footwork and strength.

Jason says: In a way, Jones is sort of the anti-Ronald Murray. He's not going to put too many points on the board, but what he will give you is a dogged defender who's not afraid to get a little dirty (remember the blatant trip of Kobe Bryant in the Western Conference Finals?) in order to get the job done.

Anthony Parker (Unrestricted)

Zipfel says: Athletic wing who can shoot it and loves the quick pull up jump shot in the mid range area. He is fairly patient on offense and changes speeds well with his dribble. Defensively, he challenges shooters quite well and has good anticipation. Has very quick hands and can defend on the ball.

Jason says: Not a name that gets fans excited, but Parker is a solid option for a team in search of a do-everything player off the bench - or as a stop-gap starter - who is versatile enough to alternate between the two-guard and small forward position.

Other notables: Rockets' fans obviously need no introductions to the respective games possessed by unrestricted free agents Von Wafer and Luther Head. Both are on the open market and Houston brass has stated its interest in bringing Wafer back into the fold. In the big name/declining production department, Allen Iverson stands front and center, though the consensus among media types is that he will go to Charlotte for a reunion with former head coach Larry Brown. More under the radar but perhaps able to offer more bang for the buck: Jarrett Jack and C.J. Watson, two players who may not be well known publicly, but both have quietly improved and shown themselves to be useful contributors the last couple years.

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