Shooting guard is one of the most visible positions in the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-centers-in-2022-23-nba-season-20221124-SPD-3193.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a>. The NBA has seen some of its most prolific scorers—including Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, to name just two—emerge from the double-guard position.



The greatest shooting guards in NBA history have won several awards, both individually and as a team. Considering that Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant hold the records for the greatest-ever perimeter scores, it stands to reason that the arena would be quite well-known to basketball fans.



There is a lot of enthusiasm among basketball fans all around the globe since players like Jerry West and Dwyane Wade have won several honors and championships. In the future, it will be even more difficult to evaluate players due to the ever-evolving nature of the league. These are the three best shooting guards in the NBA right now, as per&nbsp;NBA.com.



<h2>3. Donovan Mitchell</h2>



<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-point-guards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221120-SPD-3175.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mitchell</a> is gifted at finding ways to get an edge on the offensive side of the ball. His pull-up 3-point shooting is a difficult ability to discover, and he can’t be defended in a one-on-one situation. He will thrive in Cleveland, where he can put more of his energy into scoring and let Darius Garland handle the team’s offense.



There is room for improvement on defense, even if he has the physical attributes and draft position to become a solid defender.



<h2>2. Jaylen Brown</h2>



Brown had a fantastic postseason, proving he was capable of a higher volume of shot creation than was previously believed and making all but one of his three-point attempts. His two-way prowess was crucial to the Celtics’ 2022 NBA Finals run. In order to climb in the ranks, he should tighten up that slack grip.



<h2>1. Devin Booker</h2>



Last year, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/top-3-power-forwards-for-2022-23-nba-season-20221118-SPD-3169.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Booker</a> made his first All-NBA team and finished fourth in MVP voting. The criticisms based on meaningless statistics that have followed him his whole career have faded, and now his greatness can’t be denied. Incredible scorer and one of the league’s finest in the clutch, he was a standout performer in the last minutes of games last season.

Top 3 shooting guards for 2022-23 NBA season

Top 3 shooting guards for 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/pistons-and-bojan-bogdanovic-agree-hefty-two-year-contract-extension-20221030-SPD-3067.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nikola Jokic</a>, a top player for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/4-potentital-coaching-candidates-to-replace-steve-nash-at-brooklyn-nets-20221105-SPD-3084.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Denver Nuggets</a>, is one of the few players in NBA history to win the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/how-many-times-has-lebron-james-won-the-nba-mvp-award-151-20220502-SPD-151.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Most Valuable Player</a> title in consecutive seasons. Three-time winners are very rare, with only Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird accomplishing the feat.



In the 2022-23 season, the Joker will have to defend his title against an army of young and old players who all have a shot at the MVP award. His main opponents will be Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and several others.



An interesting fact is that Joel Embiid, center for the Philadelphia 76ers and a contender for the award, topped the NBA in MVP voting throughout most of the previous season. The 2022-23 NBA season is more than 10 games in, so we will go right into the possible MVP rankings.



<h2>4. Donovan Mitchell</h2>



Mithcell only needed to begin exploring a different web in order to join the MVP discussion. Since being traded to the Cavaliers, Mitchell has emerged as the team leader and is averaging career highs in points, assists, and stocks (steals + blocks). Additionally, he has a remarkable 45% accuracy from long-range. This is a great beginning for him.



<h2>3. Nikola Jokic</h2>



Not only have the Nuggets found success recently, but the Joker has been on fire as of late, almost averaging a triple-double every game. However, now that Jamal Murray is back in the lineup and Michael Porter Jr. is playing with greater assurance, we have witnessed a decline in Jokic’s scoring stats. This is a major factor that keeps him from becoming a higher MVP candidate.



<h2>2. Giannis Antetokounmpo</h2>



Giannis has developed into an extremely versatile and potent all-around player, capable of starting at any position on the court. The two-time MVP spent the summer playing for Greece at EuroBasket and increased his workload steadily throughout the preseason. For the fourth consecutive season, Antetokounmpo averaged at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in 2021-22, making him the first player in NBA history to do so.



<h2>1. Luka Doncic</h2>



Doncic is the rookie who has the best chance of winning Most Valuable Player this season. The 23-year-old has an incredible amount of room to grow as a player, but the progress he has already made is impressive. Without Jalen Brunson in the backcourt, the legendary Slovenian has continued to score at a high rate and has even become a legitimate triple-double threat. When it comes to the race for the NBA MVP Trophy, it’s a no-brainer that Doncic, the NBA’s leading scorer, would be the top pick.

Luka Doncic and potential MVP candidates of 2022-23 NBA season

Luka Doncic and potential MVP candidates of 2022-23 NBA season - thesportsdrops NEWS

On Wednesday, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/knicks-believed-jazz-were-trying-to-rip-someone-off-for-donovan-mitchell-charles-barkley-2728-20220911-SPD-2728.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a> arrived in Cleveland for his new season with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/jazz-send-donovan-mitchell-to-cavaliers-in-complex-trade-for-collin-sexton-2658-20220901-SPD-2658.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cavaliers</a>, and plenty of fans waited at Burke Lakefront Airport to see him. Many of his teammates and scores of supporters welcomed him when he landed in Cleveland.



Following the historic transaction that brought Mitchell to the squad, the club finally unveiled him to the public on Wednesday afternoon. At the start of September, Cleveland officially finalized the contract with the 26-year-old.



Including unprotected first-round selections in 2025, 2027, and 2029, Cleveland gave guard Collin Sexton, forward Lauri Markkanen, and rookie guard Ochai Agbaji to Utah. Moreover, in 2026 and 2028, the clubs will exchange their picks in the first round of the draft.



<h2>Donovan Mitchell believed he would be traded to Knicks</h2>



In one response, Mitchell said that he was uncertain of his future destination after a trade but anticipated playing for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-knicks-back-on-track-on-donovan-mitchell-pursuit-but-theyre-not-alone-2539-20220817-SPD-2539.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> instead of the Cavs.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Honestly I had no idea. My agent called me on a Wednesday and said ‘You’re going to Cleveland.’ Like I said my reaction was what it was. All summer I didn’t really say much, I kind of just let you guys do what you do to be honest. I thought for sure I was going back home, not gonna lie about that. “But when I found out where I was headed, who I was playing with, the group, the team, the coaching staff. I couldn’t be more happier to be here, to be a part of this organization, to be a part of this group, to join these phenomenal guys and add to it. That for me is what I’m truly excited about.”</blockquote>

"I thought for sure I was going back home" - Donovan Mitchell on his failed Knicks move - thesportsdrops NEWS

"I thought for sure I was going back home" – Donovan Mitchell on his failed Knicks move

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/i-made-the-playoffs-last-year-they-didnt-patrick-beverley-pokes-fun-at-new-teammates-lebron-james-and-anthony-davis-2706-20220907-SPD-2706.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> were considered the frontrunners to get Donovan Mitchell before he was signed to the roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the duration of the summer, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/jazz-send-donovan-mitchell-to-cavaliers-in-complex-trade-for-collin-sexton-2658-20220901-SPD-2658.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a> was a player to watch.



The 6-foot-1 combo guard wanted to play for another club after spending the previous five years with the Utah Jazz. A number of clubs expressed interest in acquiring the three-time All-Star as soon as news of Don’s desire to leave Utah began circulating.



The New York Knicks may have been the frontrunners to sign the star player. Unexpectedly, Mitchell opted to leave the San Antonio Spurs and join the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team in the Eastern Conference.



<h2>The reasons Knicks passed on acquiring Donovan Mitchell, as revealed by Charles Barkley</h2>



On Friday, Charles Barkley, a former Knicks player and current NBA pundit for TNT, chimed in on the discussions, claiming to have “inside knowledge” from Knicks senior executive William Wesley, aka World Wide Wes. Barkley said that Wesley informed him that the Jazz were seeking far more compensation than was previously known.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I’m gonna give you inside information. I actually had this conversation last night with World Wide Wes at dinner,” Barkley said. “I said, Wes, why didn’t y’all make the trade? He says, ‘Oh man. Don’t go by the media stuff. [The Jazz] wanted my wife, my kids.’“… He says, ‘We wanted the deal, obviously,’ but he said, ‘They wanted my wife, they wanted my kids, they wanted my grandkids. They were just trying to rip somebody off.’ So he says, ‘Dude, we’re gonna have to pass on it.’ And I give those guys credit, because you can’t give away everything.”</blockquote>

"Knicks believed Jazz were trying to rip someone off for Donovan Mitchell" - Charles Barkley - thesportsdrops NEWS

"Knicks believed Jazz were trying to rip someone off for Donovan Mitchell" – Charles Barkley

ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski has learned through reliable sources that the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-not-willing-to-trade-talen-horton-tucker-for-patrick-beverley-of-jazz-2216-20220715-SPD-2216.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> and the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-collin-sexton-rejects-initial-contract-extension-offer-from-cavaliers-2360-20220724-SPD-2360.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah Jazz</a> have reached a trade agreement, with the latter sending star guard <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-heat-in-need-of-third-club-to-get-donovan-mitchell-2242-20220718-SPD-2242.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a> to the former. Wojnarowski reports that in this trade, Cleveland are giving Utah three unprotected first-round selections and two pick swaps.



Meanwhile, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports says that the Jazz have acquired Lauri Markkanen, first-round pick Ochai Agbaji, and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-free-agency-nets-acquire-ex-pacers-duo-t-j-warren-and-edmond-sumner-2038-20220706-SPD-2038.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Collin Sexton</a> in the massive transaction. The transaction requires a sign-and-trade for Sexton since he is a restricted free agent.



On the other hand, as per Shams Charania of The Athletic, his new contract with the Jazz is for $72 million over four years, all of which is guaranteed. Since Cleveland owes their lottery-protected 2023 first-round selection to Indiana, Utah will get those three choices in the following years instead: 2025, 2027, and 2029. The two sides have also agreed to a first-round draft pick trade for 2026 and 2028.



<h2 id="block-a4eca9ae-7a54-4c8f-84af-4b41c17af5c9">Mitchell joins Cavaliers, while Collin Sexton moves to Utah in sign-and-trade deal</h2>



Mitchell, who turns 26 next week, has joined the Cavs’ young nucleus of Darius Garland (22), Jarrett Allen (24), and Evan Mobley (21). The possible trade had been talked about for months, and the New York Knicks seemed like the team most interested in acquiring him. However, Cleveland traded for the three-time All-Star player.



Meanwhile, Sexton was a restricted free agent after missing all of 2017 due to a knee injury. Although he had scored in the past for Cleveland, the growth of James Garland and the presence of other skilled forwards made him redundant.

Jazz send Donovan Mitchell to Cavaliers in complex trade for Collin Sexton

Jazz send Donovan Mitchell to Cavaliers in complex trade for Collin Sexton - thesportsdrops NEWS

The 2022-23 <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-trade-rumors-nets-have-bad-news-for-kevin-durant-trade-suitors-2527-20220816-SPD-2527.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBA</a> regular season is drawing nearer but the rumor mill has been quiet as of late. <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-heat-in-need-of-third-club-to-get-donovan-mitchell-2242-20220718-SPD-2242.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a>, heavily linked with a move out of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-jazz-get-numerous-players-in-exchange-for-rudy-gobert-from-timberwolves-1924-20220701-SPD-1924.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah</a> only a few weeks ago, has not made many headlines recently.



However, it looks like he will once again be the center of attention in the next few weeks. On Tuesday, NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Knicks have re-engaged in trade talks for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-not-willing-to-trade-talen-horton-tucker-for-patrick-beverley-of-jazz-2216-20220715-SPD-2216.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jazz</a> star.



New York was mentioned as a likely landing spot for Spida earlier this offseason, though Miami also seem to be monitoring him. Shams, meanwhile, reports that more teams have joined the queue for Mitchell.



<h2>NBA Trade Rumors: Hornets, Wizards join Knicks in the race for Donovan Mitchell</h2>



“After several weeks of no conversations, the New York Knicks and Utah Jazz recently re-engaged in trade talks centered on Donovan Mitchell, league sources tell The Athletic,” Charania wrote.



“The Knicks and Jazz had a fresh trade conversation within the past week about potential packages for Mitchell, according to sources. There is no traction between the two teams on a deal, and no Mitchell trade is imminent for the Jazz, sources said. The Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards are also among the teams pursuing Mitchell, those sources said.



“Throughout trade talks, the Knicks have made their interest in Mitchell abundantly clear, one source with knowledge of the situation said. The Knicks and Jazz seriously discussed a Mitchell trade during the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League in mid-July, but talks stalled out and led to nearly a month of inactivity between the sides. Now, with training camp just over one month away, the sides have re-ignited talks. Hurdles toward a deal remain.”



It’s important to note that although they re-engaged in trade talks, the Knicks still have work to do to get Mitchell. If they don’t find a way to satisfy the Jazz, they might risk missing out on this opportunity.

NBA Rumors: Knicks back on track on Donovan Mitchell pursuit, but they’re not alone - thesportsdrops NEWS

NBA Rumors: Knicks back on track on Donovan Mitchell pursuit, but they’re not alone

A player who last played for the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lebron-james-not-expected-to-depart-the-lakers-anytime-before-2024-2405-20220729-SPD-2405.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a> in 2018 looks to be of interest to the team, according to reports. There is a possibility that the Lakers would enter into the picture if the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-trade-rumors-lakers-have-other-targets-besides-kyrie-irving-2269-20220719-SPD-2269.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> manage to get <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-heat-in-need-of-third-club-to-get-donovan-mitchell-2242-20220718-SPD-2242.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a>.



If NBA insider Marc Stein is correct, Darvin Ham’s side would have no problem taking on <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/bam-adebayo-willing-to-devote-whole-professional-career-to-heat-in-spite-of-trade-rumors-2419-20220731-SPD-2419.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Julius Randle</a>‘s $117 million deal he signed in 2021. Since his contract expires at the end of the 2022-23 season, he will get $23.7 million in pay for the following two seasons.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“A very plugged-in person in the league told me… If Donovan Mitchell were to end up with the Knicks, there could be talks between the Knicks and the Lakers involving Julius [Randle],” Stein said on Spotify Live.</blockquote>



<h2>Julius Randle to return at Lakers?</h2>



Randle was drafted seventh overall by the Lakers in the NBA draft in 2014. L.A. served him well for the first four seasons and allowed him to continue to progress. He inked a two-year contract for $24 million with the New Orleans Pelicans after ending his time in Los Angeles.



He spent the 2018-19 season in New Orleans and chose not to exercise his player option for the 2019-20 season. Then, the 27-year-old moved to the Knicks and was supposed to lead the Knicks into the playoffs, but he had a poor season. As a consequence, the New York Knicks are now thought to be open to revamping their squad.

NBA News: If Donovan Mitchell joins Knicks, Lakers might move for Julius Randle

NBA News: If Donovan Mitchell joins Knicks, Lakers might move for Julius Randle - thesportsdrops NEWS

The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-news-jazz-get-numerous-players-in-exchange-for-rudy-gobert-from-timberwolves-1924-20220701-SPD-1924.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah Jazz</a> seem to be on the verge of a rebuild after recent rumors indicated that the organization is willing to listen to trade proposals for All-Star guard <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-not-willing-to-trade-talen-horton-tucker-for-patrick-beverley-of-jazz-2216-20220715-SPD-2216.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a>. Rudy Gobert was sold to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a slew of draft selections and promising young players earlier this month.



In order to get Mitchell, the Jazz have begun negotiations with the New York Knicks, who are interested in trading their shooting guard. While the Knicks can provide the Jazz with a boatload of future draft selections and some promising young players, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/jimmy-butler-isnt-ready-to-talk-about-miami-heats-playoff-elimination-1661-20220620-SPD-1661.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Miami Heat</a> are also interested in the agile guard. 



Utah rejected an offer from the Heat for Mitchell before they traded Gobert, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Now, Andy Larsen of ESPN reports that the Jazz have requested a third club in a possible trade for Mitchell because that agreement was deemed “insufficient.”



<h2>Why Heat need another club to acquire Mitchell</h2>



Similar to the Kevin Durant scenario, the Heat will need a third and maybe a fourth club in order to get the star. Even so, this isn’t because of the Designated Rookie Rule, which prevents teams from trading for Designated Rookie players while already having one of those players on a Designated Rookie contract.



The Miami side may not have enough draft capital to make a transaction, which is why this is happening. They only have two transferable first-round selection choices they can use to acquire Mitchell, compared to the up to eight first-round draft picks the Knicks can give, and that’s even before considering any players.

Donovan Mitchell