Photo Credit: Elsa/Getty Images
Should Philadelphia Bring Back Andre Iguodala in 2017?
Well, it makes sense.
Andre Iguodala’s thirteen year NBA career has seen it all–he was once young, stat-stuffing, high-flying swingman on a subpar Philadelphia team, who then spent a year in Denver before landing with a dynasty in Golden State.
Four seasons and two championships later, Iguodala has expressed his desire to make himself available to numerous teams this offseason as he enters free-agency as an unrestricted free-agent, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Sources: Andre Iguodala – core part of Warriors titles – plans to seriously consider free-agent overtures elsewhere. https://t.co/tRgXYtw2Mq
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 19, 2017
With Philadelphia on the rise–especially after landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft through trade, who will likely turn out to be Washington’s Markelle Fulz–all credit goes to former General Manager Sam Hinkie who masterminded this team into what it is today. Joining Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Dario Saric, Fultz will look to facilitate and patrol the court at point guard for many years to come. What they are missing though, is a veteran piece to guide these young players and help shape them into contenders.
Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala could be that guy.
Iguodala–selected No. 9 overall by Philadelphia in the 2004 NBA Draft–is an experienced winner who has also been apart of a rebuilding culture in the past. His resume is nothing to sneeze at: two-time NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP in 2015 during his first championship run with Golden State; All-Star in his final year with Philadelphia; multiple NBA All-Defensive team member. Iguodala has had much winning success in Golden State, and in this situation, Iguodala could do what many other players have done in the past, return to the team that drafted them.
According to The Vertical, Iguodala is seeking $20 million annually, but it won’t be easy to get him out of Golden State. The money must be right in order for Iguodala to bite at any free-agency offer. “[In order to sign Andre Iguodala], teams would need to show in meetings a vision to move toward contention to pry Iguodala from Golden State.”
During the 2017 NBA Finals, Andre Iguodala was asked about the Philadelphia 76ers’ future and admitted they have the mindset to be champions in the future.
“That’s got to be the thought, no matter who you play for,” Iguodala said. “I’m sure Joel Embiid is like, ‘We’re going to win a championship’ regardless of what anybody says.”
Also, in 2014, Iguodala tweeted at Embiid that he has high hopes for the young center after being drafted by Philadelphia a few months prior.
I got high expectations @JoelEmbiid
— andre (@andre) September 5, 2014
Iguodala witnessed change in 2012-13 in Denver when he filled the spot of former star Carmelo Anthony. With a subpar roster, Iguodala helped lead the Nuggets to a 57 win season, before falling to a young Golden State Warriors team in the first round of the playoffs 4-2.
Andre Iguodala returning to Philadelphia in 2017 could come true, as he has spoken out on their bright future in the past. Iguodala could be the difference maker in turning the 76ers in a young, inexperienced team, into a young team with a winning mentality.
