:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69686338/1233171426.0.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the final teams in the running to sign Andre Iguodala, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania reported that the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are also contenders to add the 37-year-old. However, the next morning, Iguodala chose to join the Warriors.
Andre Iguodala tells @NYTSports that he is returning to the @warriors.
— Jonathan Abrams (@Jpdabrams) August 6, 2021
“The relationship with the fans, the relationship with the Bay, the opportunity to end it here, was just something special.”--@andre https://t.co/rByRkaNEbK
Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times previously reported that Iguodala was a name to watch for the Lakers. Charania then linked him to the team again on Thursday night:
“I’m told 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala has narrowed his playing choices down to the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers... Now Iguodala will take time to decide on his next NBA destination.”
Three-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala narrows his playing choices to three teams: pic.twitter.com/o3EK6p7FZh
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 6, 2021
It would have been fairly stunning if Iguodala did not choose to run things back with his former championship teammates in Golden State (Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green), regardless of who else was in the running for his services. The Lakers now still have three open roster spots to add to their team.
This probably isn’t that big of a loss, however. Iguodala averaged career-lows of 4.4 points and 2.3 assists in 21.3 minutes per game for the Heat last season while shooting 38.3% from the field (also a career-low). He also posted career-lows in VORP (0.4), BPM (-0.7) and win shares per 48 minutes (0.062), per Basketball Reference. He did make 5 of his 11 shots in the Heat’s most recent playoff run though, so he still has the clutch gene.
iggy defensive rating by season pic.twitter.com/XbrV0J7l4l
— jeanie ️ ️ (@jeaniezk) August 6, 2021
Iguodala also has one Finals MVP, which historically I believe makes him better than Stephen Curry. So maybe that counts for something.
If he had chosen the Lakers, he would have re-joined two of his Heat teammates from last year, Kendrick Nunn and Trevor Ariza. Iguodala (37 years and 189 days old) would also have surpassed Carmelo Anthony (37 years and 68 days old) as the oldest player on the veteran-laden roster the team has assembled in free agency. Iguodala is additionally a former client of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka from the latter’s days as a sports agent, and has spoken highly of him in the past. He also once live-tweeted a Laker game while waiting for a buyout from the Grizzlies before ultimately being traded to the Heat.
Despite that past interest, however, it seems he won’t ever get to wear the purple and gold however. And given Iguodala’s age, that’s probably not that big of a deal.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Harrison on Twitter at @hmfaigen.