Iguodala has a good feeling
Veteran says he’s been getting positive vibes from Durant, Thompson
The body no longer feels as hurt. The frustration no longer feels as strong.
Yes, Andre Iguodala could still use the rest of this summer to heal his 35-year- old body and maximize his sleep. He also still cannot help but wonder if the Warriors would’ve beaten the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals if not for debilitating injuries to Kevin Durant (right Achilles) and Klay Thompson (torn ACL in left knee).
“Even losing Klay and KD, we were one possession away from going to a Game 7. And anything can happen in the Finals,” Iguodala said in a wide-ranging interview with Bay Area News Group. “That’s not even taken into consideration enough.”
And yet, Iguodala still seemed at peace this week. The reasons went beyond promoting his newly released memoir, “The Sixth Man.” Or that he is a participant in The Players’ Technology Summit in San Francisco. Iguodala also sounded optimistic about the Warriors’ uncertain future.
One, Iguodala downplayed concerns about Durant and Thompson. Durant opted out of his $31.5 million player option on Wednesday to become an unrestricted free agent. He could sign a fiveyear, $221 million deal to stay with the Warriors, but he might find it enticing to agree to a fouryear, $164 million deal with the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets or Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors and Thompson expect
to keep their partnership since the Warriors plan to give Thompson a max-contract worth around $190 million for the next five seasons. Regardless of Durant’s uncertain future, he is expected to miss at least next season because of his surgically repaired right Achilles tendon. Despite Thompson’s expected return with the Warriors, he will likely sit out a significant chunk to heal his left knee.
“I feel positive vibes with them. That’s a given,” Iguodala said. “When we’re communicating, it’s not just on a teammate level. It’s on a friendship level and making sure we’re all good in a good place. I got good vibes with the guys.”
The Warriors still have Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Iguodala. If Iguodala’s optimism holds true, both Durant and Thompson will remain in a Warriors uniform. And there is an outside chance DeMarcus Cousins could accept the Warriors’ oneyear, $6.3 million deal. The Warriors were fairly close, after all, in locking up their fourth NBA title in the past five years. Three out of five does not seem bad either.
“I have really good conversations with everyone on our team. We’re feeling really positive for next year. We’re looking at all the guys and talking to Klay and talking to KD and making sure their spirits are good,” Iguodala said. “We truly feel like the run is still going. We’re taking this time that this run is getting the best of us right now, but we’ll be back.”
How the Warriors thrive next season does not just hinge on Curry, Green and the pending free agency to their other three All-Stars. It also depends on Iguodala, who described his health as “pretty good” after dealing with overlapping ailments to his left calf during the NBA playoffs. Iguodala also enters the final year of his contract worth $17.2 million.
The Warriors are expected to negotiate a buyout with Shaun Livingston since only $2 million of his $7.7 million of his contract is guaranteed next season. Livingston has also strongly hinted he will retire to cap off a 15-year NBA career. How Iguodala’s future pans out seems uncertain.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr could use Iguodala’s unmatched playmaking, defensive versatility and team- oriented leadership either through a playoff run or rebuilding season. Or Warriors general manager Bob Myers might consider it more useful to collect assets on an expiring contract.
“I’m confident I’ll be back. If not, there are no hard feelings,” Iguodala said. “You want nothing but the best, especially with the way I feel with Steph. Wherever Steph is at, I want him to do well. You know how I feel about Steph.”
Iguodala has had an ongoing dialogue with both his Warriors’ current teammates and their pending free agents. Iguodala said “you try to have a right balance” on to what extent he has tried to sell Durant on re-signing with the team or leaving him space. Iguodala mostly has tried to have normal conversations about Durant’s life, while stressing his support regardless of his future.
“I just hope all the guys are in a good mental space going forward with all the decisions,” Iguodala said. “At the end of the day, just enjoy life and enjoy basketball and try to be at peace with whatever decision they make. They’re my guys, regardless of what happens.”
• We have a Klay Thompson sighting. The Warriors’ binge scorer showed up at the “Space Jam 2” movie set Wednesday where he met with LeBron James and Warriors teammate Draymond Green. According to TMZ Sports, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard were also on the set.
Thompson moved around with the aid of crutches to protect his left knee, which he injured during Game 6 of the NBA Finals. On Monday, Warriors general manager Bob Myers told reporters that Thompson would have surgery this week to repair a torn ACL.
Thompson’s visit to the movie set wasn’t purely social. The Athletic last week disclosed a partial list of the LeBron James-led cast. Thompson made the cut. The original “Space Jam” featured Michael Jordan.
• It appears the New York Knicks are preparing their own lovely consolation prize in the event they are unable to land Durant. DeMarcus Cousins, come on down.
Marc Stein of the New York Times, citing league sources, is reporting that the Knicks “are weighing the prospect of extending a considerable one-year offer to Warriors free-agent DeMarcus Cousins if they miss out on top target Kevin Durant.”
For what it’s worth, the Knicks have also been tied to free agents Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard.
And now a word from Andre Iguodala: “Nobody’s going to the Knicks. Sorry.”
Cousins missed the first half of last season rehabbing a ruptured Achilles. The plan was for the Warriors to use Cousins to help win their third consecutive NBA championship, thereby setting him up to cash in with another team as a free agent. The plan didn’t quite come to fruition. Cousins averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30 regular season games. He missed 14 postseason games after tearing a quad muscle, but returned for Golden State’s final eight playoff games — the first of his career.