2012 NBA Free Agents: Point Guards Capable of Transforming a Franchise
Like a QB in the NFL, no position is more important to an NBA team than the point guard.
They call the plays, dictate the tempo and are in charge of making sure the rest of the team is in the correct position.
If you don’t have a good one, the offense is going to be disorganized, frantic and turnover prone. That means they should be in the market for a new one ASAP.
Luckily for them, the 2012 NBA free-agent list has plenty of available options. Here are the top three unrestricted free agent point guards that can be the savior to your point guard needy franchise.
Deron Williams, New Jersey Brooklyn Nets
Williams has made it clear he wants out, and who can blame him?
The Nets have nothing going for them right now and unless they can pull off a miracle trade for Dwight Howard, Williams is going to be shopping for a new team.
Obviously his hometown Mavericks are in the mix, but Jason Kidd seems hell-bent on playing yet another year. Is Williams willing to split time?
A better option is the Philadelphia 76ers. Mired in above-average mediocrity for two years, they need that star player to put them over the top. Considering their fluid point guard situation, this would be a perfect fit. He has the leadership-like personality on and off the floor this young team is desperately missing. He can help young scorers like Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams catch the ball in positions that allow them to score with ease.
This would be an incredible signing for Philly if they can pull it off.
Goran Dragic, Houston Rockets
When Kyle Lowry was nursing an injury towards the end of year, Dragic shined and is going to cash in big because of it. In the month of April he averaged 18.9 points and 7.7 assists as he reminded us of his skills, previously put on full display as a member of the Phoenix Suns in their valiant 2010 playoff run to the Western Conference Finals.
His penetration and vision in the paint would be perfect fit for the Utah Jazz. Devin Harris has clearly turned into the weak link of this up-and-coming team and landing a guy like Dragic to replace him would vault the Jazz up to the upper-tier of the Western Conference.
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
The 38-year-old just averaged 10.7 assists in a lockout shortened season while missing only four games.
So while he may only be a franchise savior for another two to three years, he is certainly worth it. Nash is one of the last true pure point guards in the league as the only real focus is on winning a championship.
So what teams are currently championship contenders in need of beefing up their point guard position?
Only one team stands out: the Miami Heat.
They have all the tools to win a ring, but are held back by the inconsistencies of Mario Chalmers. Nash would extinguish any doubt by implementing his aggressive tempo with a team full of athletes that can keep up. He doesn’t need to get X amount of shots in a game and has the leadership abilities and intelligence to keep all of the stars happy.
He would be going to a team with a championship or bust mentality—just the environment Nash needs. The Heat would be deadly if Nash hops on board.
