In a move that’s been expected for months, the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday came to an agreement with forward Andre Iguodala, who they acquired from the Golden State Warriors in July.
The news could eventually lead to Iguodala becoming a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The agreement states that Iguodala will neither report to the team’s training camp nor play with them during the upcoming season. That leaves a buyout of his $17.2 million contract for this year as one of multiple possibilities.
Yet whether that buyout even takes place is unknown, with a trade of Iguodala another consideration. One possible strategic move for the Grizzlies would be for them to acquire a future draft pick from a team seeking his veteran leadership.
“There is a mutual understanding, per sources, that the situation may not reach a resolution until well into the season,” according to the Daily Memphian. “On December 15, players who signed as free agents this summer will be eligible to be traded, potentially expanding the range of possible deals. The NBA trade deadline is February 6th.”
The 36-year-old Iguodala was traded to the Grizzlies, with the Warriors also including a future first-round pick for taking on his huge salary. That allowed the Warriors some salary-cap flexibility.
However, because the Grizzlies are in the midst of rebuilding their team, Iguodala’s presence doesn’t figure to help them. In addition, the veteran seeks to continue playing with a contending team.
During the past five seasons, the Warriors reached the NBA Finals each year, winning the league titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018. In that 2015 Finals, Iguodala was named Finals MVP.
The Lakers could be Iguodala’s ultimate destination. However, the mystery about his future home may remain up in the air for months to come.
