Portland Trail Blazers: 3 players to absolutely avoid in free agency
By Andy Quach
The Portland Trail Blazers should be wary of signing Andre Iguodala
It’s hard to believe that just last year, the Miami Heat traded away Justise Winslow, James Johnson, and Dion Waiters for Andre Iguodala. Not only did they trade for him, the Heat also signed him to a 2-year/$30 million contract with a team option for 2021-2022.
Miami also received Jae Crowder in that deal, whose contributions to their bubble run made the deal more digestible, but he was not their target in the transaction.
Since arriving in Miami, Iggy has averaged 4.4 points in just under 21 minutes per game, while shooting 40 percent from the field, 32 from deep, and 58 from the stripe.
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that the Heat do not plan on paying him $15 million next season for similar performances. He’s sure to enter free agency this summer.
No disrespect to the vet, as he’s one of the most underrated players in league history, but Iggy is absolutely washed at this point in his career.
Sure, he can still play high-level defense in spurts and provide a little secondary playmaking, but in his age 38 season, he’s going to be a zero on the offensive end. Portland already has two defenders who can’t stay on the floor, because they can’t contribute on the other end in Derrick Jones Jr. and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson; they definitely don’t need another one.
If Iggy is willing to come to Portland on a veteran’s minimum and basically be a coach and emergency backup defender, then that’s still good value for the former Finals MVP. Aside from a minimum deal though, the Blazers should stay far, far away.