Andrew Iguodala is traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to the Miami Heat. /VCG Photo
Andrew Iguodala is traded by the Memphis Grizzlies to the Miami Heat. /VCG Photo
Andre Iguodala, one of the most valuable targets on the NBA trade market, has found his destiny. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat reached agreement over a deal that will send Iguodala to south beach, according to ESPN.
Iguodala accepted a two-year, 30-million-U.S.-dollar contract extension from the Heat, with a team option for the second year. Meanwhile, the Heat are trying to drag the Oklahoma City Thunder into the trade, reportedly aiming Danilo Gallinari.
"Jimmy Butler, obviously proven as one of those guys who's looked at as different but very well respected in terms of the passion and hard work that he brings to the game. I feel like his temperament and the values he has really resonates with the Miami Heat. They're very well aligned. I think he's brought out the best in those young guys," said Iguodala.
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat drives towards the rim in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, February 5, 2020. /VCG Photo
Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat drives towards the rim in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, February 5, 2020. /VCG Photo
"My big man, Bam (Adebayo)," Iguodala said. "I'm really looking forward to playing with him. Been hearing about him the last couple of years. ... Really excited about that opportunity." One thing to be revealed is that Adebayo was selected into the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
Iguodala has not played a single game since he departed the Golden State Warriors last summer. Considering that he's already 36 years old, there are understandably doubts about if he can still play.
"I'm excited to get back out there. Sometimes you get to training too much you're like, 'What's the end road?' You're training for no reason. All the hard work I put in while off, I didn't have to. I could've relaxed, but still put the hard work in on the court," said Iguodala in his response.
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat handles the ball in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, February 5, 2020. /VCG Photo
Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat handles the ball in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, February 5, 2020. /VCG Photo
Iguodala's arrival will bring what the young Heat need: experience, wing defense, orchestrating and locker room mentor. He can take Jimmy Butler's orchestrating role off the bench and join Butler to make one of the best wing defensive lines of the league. The Heat, which currently rank fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 34-16 record, are already surprising enough this season. If they can add Gallinari who has averaged 19.2 points so far this season, to their squad, the Heat can make plan for conference finals.
The Grizzlies will receive 23-year-old orchestrating forward Justise Winslow from the trade. They are reportedly trying to get rid of the contracts of Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill via further negotiations. Whether the Grizzlies win or lose in the trade remains to be seen before the deal is closed.
The Atlanta Hawks sent Jabari Parker and Alex Len to the Sacramento Kings in return for Dewayne Dedmon and two future second-round draft picks (2020, 2021).
Dewayne Dedmon of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, January 30, 2020. /VCG Photo
Dewayne Dedmon of the Sacramento Kings shoots the ball in the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, January 30, 2020. /VCG Photo
The Hawks further enriched their choices in big men. Clint Capela is younger, faster and a better finisher. Dedmon has shooting range, is more experienced and a better help defender.
As for the Kings, Len has a one-year, 4.16-million-U.S.-dollar expiring contract. Parker still has two years, both of which are worth 6.5 million left. Next summer, the team will have 9-13 million of salary space to keep Bogdan Bogadanovic.
Parker may be the losing party of the trade. Sacramento will be the fourth different team he has played for in two years. Before Parker was selected by the Milwaukee bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft, he had been seen as a combination of LeBron James and Kevin Durant. However, injuries destroyed everything.
The Golden State Warriors sent Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III to the Philadelphia 76ers for three future second-rounders (2020, 2021 and 2022).
Alec Burks (L) and Glenn Robinson III (R) are traded by the Golden State Warriors to the Philadelphia 76ers. /VCG Photo
Alec Burks (L) and Glenn Robinson III (R) are traded by the Golden State Warriors to the Philadelphia 76ers. /VCG Photo
Both Burks and Robinson grew to become better players in the Warriors.
Having played the team's second-longest 1,390 minutes on the court, Burks put down a total of 773 points (second-most), 151 assists (third-most), 50 steals (second-most) and 224 free throws (most) for the Warriors. He has tried 192 dribble-and-shots and could score 1.026 points per possession, better than 82 percent of the players in the league. Moreover, Burks could shoot 5.8 3-pointers per 36 minutes at a rate of 37.5 percent.
Simply speaking, he's a qualified bench scorer and space-stretching option.
As for Robinson, the time in Golden State saved his career. He improved his 3-pointers and now is able to take an average of four attempts with a 40 percent rate. More importantly, Robinson learnt new skills including setting off-ball screens, making hand-to-hand passing and shooting in the middle range after screens – 46 percent of FG rate in this area is more than okay.
Besides the defense he already has, Robinson can do more than stretching out the space in the 76ers.
Joel Embiid (L) and Ben Simmons (R) stand together in the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 28, 2020. /VCG Photo
Joel Embiid (L) and Ben Simmons (R) stand together in the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 28, 2020. /VCG Photo
The 76ers will love Burks' dribble-and-call-for-screen ability because that's what they lack the most. Robinson pairing Joel Embiid, Al Horford or Ben Simmons for off-ball screen plays can also enrich the team's poor offensive options.
This deal serves only one purpose for the Warriors: to avoid luxury tax. If the team pay luxury tax this season, they will meet the standard of paying luxury tax next season in three out of four seasons and thus begin to pay super luxury tax, which will be approximately 115 million U.S. dollars.
By contrast, if they avoid luxury tax this season, the number they will pay next season will be 85 million. The team's scheduled luxury tax this season, if they don't do anything, is about 15 million. 30+15=45 million, about the annual salary of Stephen Curry.
Currently, the Warriors' total salaries are still 0.488 million above the luxury line. Meanwhile, the bad news is they only have 11 players on in their roster and thus need to sign another three to make a 14-man list. Therefore, the team are expected to plan on following moves. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday. Let's wait and see.