Why is it that Andre Iguodala, a one-time NBA Finals MVP, and owner of NBA rings, remains in limbo while the regular season is now well underway? Reports said the Memphis Grizzlies are shopping for a suitable deal for Iggy and he might just head back to California and suit up for the Lakers.
However, the Lakers are not the only team wanting to get the veteran that is Iguodala. There were talks he might join the other LA team and where Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers are just one of the options for the NBA champ, according to Bleacher Report.
The list includes the Denver Nuggets, the Dallas Mavericks, the Portland Trailblazers, the Utah Jazz, and the Houston Rockets. To be sure, the Lakers are in the mix but it seemed all the clubs interested on having Iguodala are held back by limitations. The one thing that prevents them from starting to forge a deal is the absence of bargaining chips.
The Lakers, for one, can't offer back a good package that would make the Grizzlies happy. Per the same report, one thing that Memphis wants is a first-round pick for the discussion to start on good footing. The Gold & Purple could not afford to pull something like that from its pocket.
It's the same way with the cost of absorbing Iguodala. There was no doubt he was shipped to Memphis in order to offload his $17 million salary on the last year of his contract. Normally, the Lakers picking up that tab is not a problem but the team is hampered by salary cap. And that is the price of having LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the same roster, plus a few more well-paid stars.
In other words, there is no room to make way for the kind of contract that comes with Iguodala.
It was not the case with the Nuggets, however. The team has exactly what Memphis wants but it remains to be seen if Iguodala will want a spot on Denver, or if the latter is really keen on opening up something for a 35-year-old player.
In the end, the Lakers emerged as the best place where Iguodala is playing next.
Per the same Bleacher Report: "The Lakers are still the favorite. Someone's going to have to make a risky move for a 35-year-old to make a trade work. Who's going to do that?"
The bottom line for Iguodala is not too many teams are willing to make the first move, according to USA Today. That's because he is expensive, he is not exactly young, and the salary cap leaves little room for interested parties to make their move.
The best case scenario for the former Warriors is to wait out for the trade deadline in February and hope that the Grizzlies will be forced to offer a buyout. When that happens, Iguodala will earn a ticket to shop around for an NBA team that will give him another ring before retirement.
