Andre Iguodala hasn’t said much publicly since being sent from Golden State to Memphis at the start of July in a cost-cutting trade the Warriors had to make to accommodate the acquisition of D’Angelo Russell. However, he spoke to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area on Sunday, with Poole suggesting it was “evident” that Iguodala isn’t exactly excited to join the Grizzlies.
“We’ll see,” Iguodala said when asked about his situation. “OK, maybe I shouldn’t say we’ll see. But we’re trying to figure out things on both sides. They’re trying to figure out some things, and I’m trying to figure out some things. As of today, we’re on the same page. Camp opens the next week. We’ll see. We’re on the same page though.”
As Iguodala hints, it seems safe to assume that neither he nor Memphis expects him to still be on the team’s roster when the 2019/20 season ends. But it remains to be seen whether he’ll move on in a trade or a buyout — and when exactly it might happen. Reports have indicated that the Grizzlies aren’t eager to buy out the former Finals MVP, while his potential trade suitors appear willing to be patient.
Asked about the possibility of a buyout, Iguodala explained to Poole his thoughts on the concept.
“At this point, the only buyout that makes sense — if I’m speaking on someone else’s behalf, thinking as an agent — is you don’t leave money on the table,” Iguodala said. “Especially in this league. Because you’ll never get it back, no matter what people say. Negotiations are a tactic, so you’ve got to be careful how you approach it, or how you verbalize what you would do going forward. But you can’t leave anything on the table.”
If Iguodala is approaching buyout negotiations with that stance, the stalemate between him and Memphis makes some sense. As Sean Deveney of Heavy.com notes, the Grizzlies likely want Iguodala to give back a decent chunk of his $17MM+ salary if they’re going to give him a clear path to join a contender without getting an asset in return.
If the two sides can find common ground on a buyout agreement, expect the Clippers, Lakers, and Rockets to be in hot pursuit, according to Deveney, who names the Nuggets and Nets as potential dark horses. In the meantime, training camps will get underway very soon, and Iguodala will have to remember that he won’t be reporting to the Warriors this fall.
“I forget that I’m not on the same team,” Iguodala told Poole. “I was texting with Loon (Kevon Looney) and asking him what he was eating and talking about Jiu-Jitsu training. And then, it’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot. We’re not even on the same team anymore.’ I laugh about that all the time.”
If West is still with the Dubs I doubt the exit of Iggy and Livingston are the same.
Myers doesn’t seem to be built for long run.
He essentially traded Iguodala and Livingston for D’Angelo Russell. Kevin Durant was leaving anyway and you had to lose those two salaries to fit Russell in. I think it was a smart move. You don’t think so?
Whose going to play defense? Already this past season the dubs were not a great defensive team, specially against mobile front courts. Russell doesn’t play good D on the wing and most likely is a trade piece down the line. Team has a lot of holes as is right now.
Defense in the post Looney and cauley-stein.
Defense on the wing Draymond Green Glenn Robinson, Alec Burks.
Defense up top… To your point not much. But you funnel guys in towards the strong Defenders.
I think they’ll be fine. Plus at some point Klay Thompson comes back and he can guard the strong point guards. Voila, great defensive team.
In your dreams. You don’t create a strong defensive team without the necessary players. All you’re doing is putting a lot of stress on drays and Looneys bodies and WCS can’t guard guys like Embiid.
Everyone else you mention is a scrub. No they will not be fine as you seem to imagine
Okay fair enough. We’ll see how it plays out.
By now we can clearly see that for Iggy is more important to cash in that play hoops, disappointing attitude for a guy that has made over $150MM during his career… SMH
Where are you reading that cashing out is most important to him?
If anything he may end up taking less to get bought out and go to a serious contender, the most likely scenario.
“At this point, the only buyout that makes sense is you don’t leave money on the table” because you’ll never get it back, no matter what people say
Kind of self-explanatory, right?
What I can see this issue is Andre wants buyout but he doesn’t want give up any money and why should Memphis pay your full salary to let you go instead trade you. This first buyout I have seen or remember at stalemate. Looking Back Iggy performance in finals, he done,he on decline ,when warriors need him most for scoring and defense with injuries he was nowhere be found,this it for him,he be out league soon that contract up, young players taking up roster spots each draft year.vets being push out league because lack roster spots given draft picks each year 3-4 deals