The Golden State Warriors are bringing Andre Iguodala back and the 2015 Finals MVP will return to the team after agreeing to a three-year contract with the champs for a reported $48 million. The news was broken by two people: ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and Iguodala himself.
Sources close to Andre Iguodala reporting agreed to terms to return to the bay….
— andre (@andre) July 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/881359378393083905
Wojnarowski got the updated terms of the deal, which is $3 million more than originally reported.
Iguodala's deal will be worth $48M over the three years, league source tells ESPN. Warriors deepened offer, close deal tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2017
Iguodala was a key cog for 2017 NBA Champions, and the veteran finished second in the voting for the Sixth Man Award in 2016-2017. The 13-year vet averaged 7.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 36.2 percent from three-point range last season and will turn 34 years old in January.
The move is a big one for Golden State for two reasons. First, obviously, is Iguodala is a key part of the team’s revered death lineup and provides defense, ball handling, and all the other things that have made Iguodala such a valuable member to the franchise.
But more importantly, Iguodala staying in Golden State means that he’s not heading to a team that is trying to become a major threat to the Warriors: Houston. As Sam Amick reported, the Rockets wanted to bring Iguodala on board with the hopes of weakening the champions.
Andre Iguodal's deal is three years, $48 million, I'm told. Huge win for the Warriors. Rockets, others wanted to hurt them with this one.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 2, 2017
With James Harden and Chris Paul in tow, getting Iguodala would have given the Rockets a third ball handler whose defense could provide crucial. He’d also, you know, provide insight into how to possibly beat Golden State, which was reportedly a focus of some teams heading into free agency.
But the Warriors managed to come out on top and keep their core together even though it looked like Iguodala may have gone elsewhere. There were concerns about whether the team would be able to afford to bring Iguodala back, but ultimately, the need to keep their core together won out and the 2015 NBA Finals MVP will head back to the bay.
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