Andre Iguodala re-signed with the Warriors this summer on a 3-year, $48 million contract to keep the 2015 Finals MVP in the Bay and, in turn, keep the core of the Warriors’ superteam intact. Kevin Durant’s decision to take even less than expected in contract negotiations played a major role in Golden State bringing back their key sixth man, as they could up their offer to a competitive number on the market.
There were reports at the time that Iguodala was seriously considering leaving Golden State, but we never knew just how close it was to being a reality. In a new story from ESPN’s Chris Haynes documenting Iguodala’s hectic day of free agency, it was revealed just how close he came to trying to work out a deal with the Warriors’ sudden top rivals in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets.
According to Haynes, Iguodala listened to calls and pitches from the Lakers and Kings, with L.A. pushing for a 1-year, $20 million deal similar to what J.J. Redick got in Philadelphia, while the Kings were pushing hard with big money (the story doesn’t note exactly how much, but likely more than the $16 million per year he eventually agreed to).
However, the two teams that intrigued him most were the Texas twosome of the Spurs and Rockets. The Rockets pitch, in particular, had Iguodala so intrigued that he cancelled all his future meetings and was close to going back to Golden State to let them know he would want a sign-and-trade, before they eventually ponied up with the big offer that eventually kept him in town. Haynes reported the newly-acquired Chris Paul took over the Rockets’ presentation and made a tremendous impression on Iguodala.
The two sides carried on with the meeting until newly acquired Rockets point guard Chris Paul stormed into the suite and took over the presentation, multiple sources said. Iguodala, Rosenthal and Cline-Thomas were stunned.
Paul, who had been a Rocket for just four days, raved about the closeness of the team and the transparency within the organization for about 20 minutes. He revealed that the franchise’s openness was something he has never experienced in the NBA. Iguodala was captivated.
The Rockets didn’t have cap space, so all that was available was their midlevel exception. They offered him a four-year deal worth $32 million. But Morey, a mastermind at maneuvering through the cap, began jotting down — right there on the conference table — lucrative sign-and-trade scenarios like a mad scientist, sources said. It was understood that this would be the lone route at persuading Iguodala to join the team.
The meeting lasted almost two hours and was termed as “the best recruiting presentation of all time,” according to a source within Iguodala’s camp.
Had the Rockets been able to land Iguodala in a sign-and-trade, it would have been a major coup for Houston in closing the gap even further on the Warriors. Not only would they have landed the veteran wing presence they’re still searching for in Carmelo Anthony trade talks, but they would have done so by stripping the Warriors of much needed wing depth and their lone insurance policy against an injury to Kevin Durant.
It also shows how committed Chris Paul was to the Rockets in the brief time he had been with the team and would suggest he plans on being in Houston long term. In the end, the Warriors were able to come back over the top and keep Iguodala around, thanks to the Durant deal and the added funds they had to lock Iguodala up for three more years. In doing so, Golden State kept their best bench player and also prevented a rival from getting better, thus ensuring they remain well ahead of the rest of the pack in the NBA.
