The possibility that Andre Iguodala will leave the Golden State Warriors continues to gain momentum.
ESPN.com’s Chris Haynes reported earlier this week that seven teams plan to pursue the 33-year-old swiss army knife. Now, The Vertical’s Shams Charania is reporting that the Warriors are worried they might not be able to keep him:
Sources: Warriors' luxury tax moving forward is concern for Golden State and owner Joe Lacob in re-signing Andre Iguodala.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2017
This is a fair concern.
There are teams that could justify offering Iguodala three years and $60 million—a blatant overpay aimed at adding a quality player who should have two years of high-end defense left in him while also chipping away at the Warriors’ foundation. And that puts the Dubs an awkward situation.
Kevin Durant seems willing to sign a non-Bird max that allows Golden State to retain the rights to both Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. But matching whatever three-year offers Iggy is getting takes them into Klay Thompson’s next contract. Rivaling a four-year overture takes them into Draymond Green’s next deal. The luxury tax payment on a team that keeps all five of Green, Thompson, Durant, Iguodala and Stephen Curry leading into that 2020-21 season would be absurd.
It’s a safe bet the Warriors will let Iguodala walk if he fields a salary even remotely close to $20 million per year. It’s less safe, however, to bet on that offer being available. It’s going to take supreme guts on the part of at least one team, and with the salary cap leveling out, such a suitor may not exist.
