RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesAs we remain in the doldrums of the NBA offseason, today, we begin our annual series in which we project the top players at each position for the campaign ahead.
We begin with the Top 27 point guards for the 2026-27 season, a project that was not easy to put together, as the point guard position is arguably the most loaded in the NBA today. The Top 2 feature MVP-caliber talents, the third-place finisher here finished Top 5 in the MVP vote himself, and a player who only just cracked the Top 5 led his team to a championship and earned Finals MVP honors just last year.
Just missed the cut: Kingston Flemings, Andrew Nembhard, Davion Mitchell
27. Darius Acuff (Sacramento)
2026-27 salary: $8,021,640 ( 204th overall )
The reigning No. 7 overall pick and one of just two rookie point guards in this ranking, Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr.
Acuff enters the NBA with some hype, as he’s coming off a one-and-done season at Arkansas in which he led the SEC in nightly points (23.5) and assists (6.4) while earning consensus All-American status and winning SEC Player of the Year. Acuff even led the Razorbacks to the Sweet 16. The Detroit native even became the first and only player since Pete Maravich to lead the SEC in scoring and assists in the same season, an unfathomably impressive feat.
However, his Summer League was somewhat concerning, as it showed why he fell to being the seventh pick after such an impressive freshman campaign at Arkansas. Acuff averaged 20.8 points and 4.6 assists in Summer League but shot just 35 percent from the floor and 27.8 percent from three, leading some to worry that his tough-shot-making ability won’t translate to the NBA.
Acuff’s shot selection will need work, and his ability to drive and finish against NBA bigs down low will need to be monitored, but the 19-year-old does have upside, which is why he made this ranking.
For the latest Darius Acuff news and rumors, click here .
26. Fred VanVleet (Houston)
2026-27 salary: $25,000,000 ( 72nd overall )
Coming off missing an entire season due to a torn ACL and meniscus, we’re not entirely sure how Fred VanVleet will look when he returns, now at 32 years old, which is why we have him as low as we do in this ranking.
When healthy, VanVleet is a bulldog of a point guard, a two-way performer who plays with tenacity and toughness on both ends of the floor. VanVleet can hit shots from deep, off the dribble or with his feet set, or finish with floaters closer to the painted area, while also contributing as a playmaker. He’s also quite heady, excelling at putting his teammates into the right positions, performing like another coach on the floor.
A true floor general with championship experience, it was notable how much the Houston Rockets missed VanVleet in his absence last season, and if he’s back at full strength, we think people might be sleeping on Houston’s championship chances in 2026-27.
For the latest Fred VanVleet news and rumors, click here .
25. Jrue Holiday (Portland)
2025-26 stats: 16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 6.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 45.1 FG%, 37.8 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $34,800,000 ( 50th overall )
Now 36, veteran floor general Jrue Holiday is the first of three Portland Trail Blazers point guards on this list, which leads us to believe at least one of them could be on the move, either before the season or by the trade deadline. Regardless, Holiday proved he’s got plenty left in the tank last campaign, putting up healthy averages of over 16 points and six assists per game while shooting nearly 38 percent from three.
He was also hugely impactful thanks to his scoring, creating and defending, helping lead Portland to the playoffs despite it being a tumultuous season for the organization. Holiday made the Blazers nearly 10 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor in 2025-26, hence why we believe he’ll remain one of the 27 best point guards in the league next season.
For the latest Jrue Holiday news and rumors, click here .
24. Jalen Suggs (Orlando)
2025-26 stats: 13.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.8 spg, 43.5 FG%, 33.9 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $32,400,000 ( 58th overall )
After a 2023-24 season that saw him earn 2nd Team All-Defense honors and Defensive Player of the Year votes, Jalen Suggs has missed a lot of time due to injury over the past two seasons, suiting up in just 56.1 percent of possible games during that stretch. In fact, Suggs hasn’t been all that available in his entire Magic career, playing in just 67 percent of potential games during his time in the NBA.
That has to have hampered Suggs’ development to an extent, as the former Gonzaga standout remains a work in progress on offense due to his poor outside shooting and just so-so decision-making as a playmaker. Still, Suggs is lightning fast in the open court with a quick first step and driving ability in the halfcourt, and that’s to go with his elite defending, so he remains a solid starter at the 1.
For the latest Jalen Suggs news and rumors, click here .
23. Anthony Black (Orlando)
2025-26 stats: 15.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 44.7 FG%, 33.3 3PT%
2026-27 salary: $10,105,996 ( 173rd overall )
Suggs might actually be getting Wally Pipped by the next player in this ranking, Anthony Black , who enjoyed a breakout 2025-26, one that saw the 6-foot-7 point guard post career-highs in points (15.0), rebounds (3.8) and assists (3.7). Black does need to continue working on his three-pointer, as the 22-year-old is 33.8 percent from three for his career. That lack of an outside jumper was exposed in the postseason, when Black averaged just 8.6 points and 1.4 assists on 37.0 percent shooting from the floor.
Still, the upside is evident with Black, a super-sized point guard with versatility on both ends of the floor.
For the latest Anthony Black news and rumors, click here .
22. Immanuel Quickley (Toronto)
2025-26 stats: 16.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.9...
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