Warriors express interest in Iguodala
As the NBA’s freeagent negotiating period began Monday afternoon, two names surfaced at the top of the Warriors’ offseason wish list: Andre Iguodala and Nicolas Batum.
Both swingmen are expected to talk to the Warriors before teams officially may start signing free agents Friday as Golden State tries to recapture its contending ways by adding two experienced players.
Iguodala, who became a fan favorite with the Warriors from 2013 through ’19, makes a lot of sense, because Golden State has only the taxpayer’s midlevel exception (about $5.9 million) and minimum contracts to chase proven players at the positions they need to fill: backup point guard, versatile wing and center.
Though he’ll turn 38 in January, Iguodala could plug two of the holes as he’s still considered a good defender against guards and forwards and can run the Warriors’ offense as a backup point guard.
The 2015 NBA Finals MVP became a free agent Sunday, when the Heat declined his option to make $15 million in 202122. He played 63 games for Miami this past season, averaging 4.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 21 minutes per game just a year after the Warriors dealt him in a salarysaving move.
Iguodala initially came to the Warriors in 2013, when his thenagent Rob Pelinka helped navigate a remarkable threeteam signandtrade deal with Denver and Utah. The transaction allowed the Warriors to get away from the essentially dead money invested in Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson and Brandon Rush and flip that salary into a fouryear, $48 million contract with Iguodala.
Pelinka is now the general manager of the Lakers, so the Warriors will have plenty of competition for a player whom Steve Kerr calls one of the most intelligent he’s ever coached. Iguodala is also a close golfing buddy of Stephen Curry and is a tech investor with a series of Silicon Valley companies.
Maybe that will be enough to get Iguodala to return for a veteran minimum contract, but that rarely has been the case during his career. After initially offering Iguodala a threeyear, $36 million deal in 2017 with a partial guarantee for the final year, he used talks with San Antonio, Sacramento and Houston as threats to convince the Warriors into a threeyear, $48 million deal that they couldn’t afford to finish paying him, instead shipping him to Memphis in 2019.
Still, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that momentum “is bubbling strong” for Iguodala to return to Golden State.
If talks break down with Iguodala or the Warriors can talk him into taking the minimum, they could offer a piece of the taxpayer’s midlevel exception to Batum. The sides were close to agreeing to terms last offseason before Klay Thompson injured his Achilles and Batum opted for a better chance at a deep playoff run with the Clippers.
In a bounceback season during which he made just more than $2.5 million, Batum averaged 8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 40.4% shooting from 3point range. Batum, who is playing for France in the Tokyo Olympics, fits the Warriors’ need for an experienced player who can defend four positions and make open 3point shots.
Of course, many teams are seeking the same skills. Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported that the Clippers, Heat and Pacers are also in the mix for the 6foot9 13year veteran.