NBA Free Agent Profile: Andre “Iggy” Iguodala
By Corey Young
May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) defends Denver Nuggets shooting guard Andre Iguodala (9) on the drive during the first quarter of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Andre Iguodala is a free agent that the Detroit Pistons are entertaining and making a serious run at. We will talk about how he will fit in and what he brings to the table. We will also estimate about how much he will cost in free agency and his connection to Maurice “Mo” Cheeks who coached Iggy while they were both in Philadelphia.
Andre Iguodala was born on January 28, 1984 in Springfield, Illinois and is listed at 6ft 6in 207lbs and can play either the small forward or the shooting guard. Iguodala attended the University of Arizona for two years from 2002-2004 where in 64 career games averaged 9.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg,3.4 apg, and 1.5 spg with career highs in his final season in Arizona being 12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.9 apg, and 1.5spg. Iguodala entered the NBA after his sophomore year and was drafted 9th in the 2004 by the Philadelphia 76ers. A 2012 gold medalist in the London Olympics Iggy has the distinction of being traded during his gold medal run. Iggy NBA career averages 15.1ppg, 5.8rpg, 4.9apg,and 1.7spg. He spent last season with the Denver Nuggets before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
What Iggy brings is a perimeter defender who can frustrate the opponents leading perimeter scorer. He is fearless teammate and a great team leader and understand pressure and rises to the occasion often shinning when others wither in the limelight. He has an understanding of what is expected of him as a player due to his previous experience working with Maurice “Mo” Cheeks in Philadelphia from 2005-2008. Cheeks was instrumental in the growth of Iggy as Iggy would have a career high 19.9ppg in the 2007-2008 season. Iggy question marks are the fact he will be 30 years of age before the end of the next NBA season and someone who depends on his athleticism who is getting older and could lose a step sooner rather than later. I also worry about his three point percentage because he can be serviceable but his career percentage is .329% although his last season in Philadelphia he shot a career high .394% from three point range in 2011-2012. The going rate for a guy on the door step of 30 is probably about 7-10 million for about 3-5 years but with Iggy intangibles I can see Detroit offering anywhere between 8-13 million per season for his services because we need leadership and a consummate professional who will teach the young guys how to work hard and be responsible.
Overall Iggy would be a great get for Detroit from a leadership perspective and getting another piece of the puzzle for the Detroit Pistons is a necessary step for the Pistons to move forward and hopefully make a playoff push. I still worry if a player of his caliber and his age will not want to wait a few years before the Pistons can potentially truly flourish into an eastern conference power and yes I said an eastern conference power.