NBA Draft Kit: Shooting Guard Tiers

NBA Draft Kit: Shooting Guard Tiers

This article is part of our NBA Draft Kit series.

Over the course of this week, RotoWire will roll out its annual Tiers series, grouping the fantasy-relevant players at each position by projected value. We'll release a position each day, beginning Monday with Centers and wrapping up with Point Guards on Friday.

READ: Center Tiers
READ: Power Forward Tiers
READ: Small Forward Tiers
READ: Point Guard Tiers

Shooting guards typically don't enjoy the same fantasy notoriety as their backcourt mates, but the position still boasts an impressive amount of talent at the top, headlined by one of the best pure shooters in NBA history. There's also some solid depth at the position, with perhaps a higher quality of multi-category production to be found than in recent seasons.

What follows is a breakdown of the projected starting two-guards and high-usage reserves for the upcoming season by expected fantasy value. Meanwhile, the later tiers consist of players who have potential, but carry questions about consistency and playing time.

Tier I: The Elite

James Harden, Rockets

Harden established career-highs last season in points (29.1), rebounds (8.1), assists (11.2), three-point attempts (9.3), free throws made (9.2) and free-throw attempts (10.9). He was also the epitome of durability and reliability, eschewing the concept of rest days to play at least 81 games for the third straight season.

Naturally, Chris Paul's arrival should equate to a reduction in assists for Harden, who transitioned to a near full-time point guard role last season. However, Harden was an above-average distributor as a two-guard prior to 2016-17,

Over the course of this week, RotoWire will roll out its annual Tiers series, grouping the fantasy-relevant players at each position by projected value. We'll release a position each day, beginning Monday with Centers and wrapping up with Point Guards on Friday.

READ: Center Tiers
READ: Power Forward Tiers
READ: Small Forward Tiers
READ: Point Guard Tiers

Shooting guards typically don't enjoy the same fantasy notoriety as their backcourt mates, but the position still boasts an impressive amount of talent at the top, headlined by one of the best pure shooters in NBA history. There's also some solid depth at the position, with perhaps a higher quality of multi-category production to be found than in recent seasons.

What follows is a breakdown of the projected starting two-guards and high-usage reserves for the upcoming season by expected fantasy value. Meanwhile, the later tiers consist of players who have potential, but carry questions about consistency and playing time.

Tier I: The Elite

James Harden, Rockets

Harden established career-highs last season in points (29.1), rebounds (8.1), assists (11.2), three-point attempts (9.3), free throws made (9.2) and free-throw attempts (10.9). He was also the epitome of durability and reliability, eschewing the concept of rest days to play at least 81 games for the third straight season.

Naturally, Chris Paul's arrival should equate to a reduction in assists for Harden, who transitioned to a near full-time point guard role last season. However, Harden was an above-average distributor as a two-guard prior to 2016-17, averaging between 6.1 and 7.5 dimes in the three previous seasons.

Note: Harden may also be point guard-eligible in many formats

Tier II: Proven Stars

C.J. McCollum, Trail Blazers
DeMar DeRozan, Raptors
Jimmy Butler, Timberwolves
Klay Thompson, Warriors
Bradley Beal, Wizards

McCollum is still improving even after setting career highs in points (23.0) and rebounds (3.6) per game, as well as field-goal percentage (48.0) and three-point percentage (42.1) He works seamlessly with Damian Lillard, and the offense will be designed to primarily run through both guards once again. Usage (27.5 percent) and durability (averages of 80 games and 34.9 minutes in two seasons as starter) are not concerns.

DeRozan will benefit from the Raptors retaining Kyle Lowry. The USC product is coming off of unquestionably the best statistical campaign of his career, and he posted his highest field-goal percentage (46.7) since 2010-11.

A reunion with Tom Thibodeau should make the transition to Minnesota much easier for Butler. His overall production will likely take a slight hit given the talent around him, but Butler should still offer superb production across the board while dealing with fewer double teams.

Thompson got off to a bit of a slow start last season, but by the end of the year he'd set new career-highs in points (22.3), three-point attempts (8.3), field goals made (8.3) and field goal attempts (17.6).

Much like DeRozan, Beal benefits greatly from playing alongside John Wall. While Beal carries some durability concerns, he played in 77 games last season and didn't appear to be bothered by the lower-leg issues that plagued him earlier in his career.

Tier III: Very Good Starters

*May also carry point guard eligibility

Gary Harris, Nuggets
Nicolas Batum, Hornets
Avery Bradley, Pistons
Victor Oladipo, Pacers
Jrue Holiday, Pelicans*
Devin Booker, Suns
Evan Fournier, Magic

Harris took a major step forward last season, shooting a hyper-efficient 50.2 percent from the floor, including 42.0 percent from three-point range.

A steady veteran who's had two of the most productive years of his career since joining the Hornets, Batum fills out stat sheet, providing above-average rebound and assist numbers for a two-guard.

Despite transitioning to a new team, Bradley will look to continue his career ascension. He averaged more than 16 points per game last season and attempted at least 5.0 three-pointers per game for the second straight season. Of course, Bradley also offers solid steals numbers as part of an excellent defensive profile, overall.

Back home in Indiana, Oladipo figures to see considerably more opportunity as one of the top two offensive options for the rebuilding Pacers. Oladipo was overshadowed by Russell Westbrook last season, but he quietly posted rock-solid numbers -- 15.9 points per game on career-best 44.2 percent shooting -- and demonstrated improvement as an outside shooter.

The argument could be made that Booker belongs in Tier 2, but he needs to do more than score in bunches at a relatively inefficient rate. Granted, Booker took a major step forward across the board last season, though he remained a sub-43 percent shooter from the field.

Tier IV: Above-Average Starters

*May also carry point guard eligibility

Kent Bazemore, Hawks
Marcus Smart, Celtics*
Jeremy Lin, Nets*
Dwyane Wade, Bulls
Wesley Matthews, Mavericks
Austin Rivers, Clippers
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Lakers
Tyreke Evans, Grizzlies
Dion Waiters, Heat
Tim Hardaway, Knicks
J.J. Redick, 76ers
George Hill, Kings*
Rodney Hood, Jazz
Will Barton, Nuggets
Eric Gordon, Rockets
Lou Williams, Clippers

Bazemore has proven to be durable (70-plus games in three straight seasons), and he offers multi-category production, but he's limited offensively and will suit up for perhaps the NBA's least-talented roster.

Meanwhile, Wade had a solid statistical season in Chicago, but durability is a major concern, and he could end up in a lesser role elsewhere if he's eventually bought out.

Rivers enjoyed a career season in 2017-18, but it remains to be seen how he'll fit into rotation after the Clippers essentially swapped out Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford for Milos Teodosic, Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley.

Both Waiters and Hardaway now have big-money contracts to live up to, and will need to prove their impressive 2016-17 campaigns were more than one-year flukes. Hardaway, in particular, should have the opportunity to be a volume scorer, particularly if the Knicks move on from Carmelo Anthony at some point.

As dependable as they come at the two-guard spot, Redick has averaged no fewer than 14.1 points per game in any of the last five seasons. He should once again be an above-average source of efficient three-point production, though the dramatic change of scenery could entail an adjustment period.

Hill is a solid veteran who proved he had plenty left in tank last season in Utah, but a projected move to shooting guard, injury concerns, and the presence of Buddy Hield, De'Aaron Fox and Justin Jackson could cap his upside.

Tier V: Decent Role Players

*May also carry point guard eligibility

J.R. Smith, Cavaliers
Tony Snell, Bucks
Seth Curry*, Mavericks
Jordan Clarkson*, Lakers
Jamal Crawford, Timberwolves

Smith looked downright lost at times last season, shooting a career-worst 34.6 percent from the field and missing half the season with a thumb injury. A bounceback could be in the cards, but at this point in his career the soon-to-be-32-year-old is essentially a three-point specialist.

Crawford played all 82 games in his age-36 season and continued to show few signs of decline. He'll enter a new situation in Minnesota but should still be a lock to score in double-figures, though he won't do it efficiently.

Tier VI: Late-Round Fliers

Marco Belinelli, Hawks
Jaylen Brown, Celtics
Sean Kilpatrick, Nets
Allen Crabbe, Nets
Matthew Dellavedova, Bucks
E'Twaun Moore, Pelicans
Courtney Lee, Knicks
Nik Stauskas, 76ers
Buddy Hield, Kings
Jodie Meeks, Wizards
Joe Ingles, Jazz
Andre Roberson, Thunder
Danny Green, Spurs

READ MORE:
2017-18 Center Tiers
2017-18 Power Forward Tiers
2017-18 Small Forward Tiers
2017-18 Point Guard Tiers

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juan Carlos Blanco
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
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