Andre Iguodala 'expected to speak' with Warriors after Heat decline option
Andre Iguodala re-signing with the Golden State Warriors would definitely be on-brand as far as heartwarming reunions go.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday afternoon (Aug. 1) that the Miami Heat are declining their $15 million team option on Iguodala, who landed in Miami from Memphis in a three-team trade in February 2020. The Heat subsequently signed him to a two-year, $30 million contract extension.
The move makes the 37-year-old All-Star forward a free agent once NBA free agency officially begins Monday (Aug. 2) at 6 p.m. EST. According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, there will at least be a conversation between Iguodala and the Warriors:
Iguodala's NBA career began as the Philadelphia 76ers' ninth overall pick in the 2004 draft. He played for the Sixers until they sent him to Denver in August 2012. He played the 2012-13 season with the Nuggets before signing a four-year contract with Golden State in July 2013.
The next chapter was literally history. Alongside a core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green (and eventually Kevin Durant), the valued sixth man helped the Warriors claim three NBA championships between 2014-18, including back-to-back titles in 2017 and '18.
Iguodala was named the 2015 NBA Finals MVP.
Iguodala's tenure with Golden State ended unceremoniously, as the Warriors dealt him to Memphis in July 2019 in order to clear salary for the sign-and-trade acquisition of D'Angelo Russell, who has since moved on to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Iguodala never suited up for the Grizzlies before signing with the Heat.
Since arriving in Miami, Iguodala averaged 4.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 84 games (five starts) over two seasons. He also averaged 20.9 minutes per game.
For more insight into Iguodala's time with the Warriors, and his life as a whole, check out his memoir The Sixth Man.
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