By MARTIN FRANK • For the Courier-Post • February 1, 2010
Now that the trade rumors are flying fast and furious around Sixers swingman Andre Iguodala, it's a good time to wonder just how good he would be on a legitimate championship contender. It has always been said, even by those who have known Iguodala the best, that he's an ideal second scorer on a team with a superstar, a Scottie Pippen-type to a Michael Jordan.
If the Sixers go through with any of these rumored deals, Iguodala could get the chance to prove it. That will probably never be the case with the Sixers, at least in the next few years, because they probably won't get that superstar by trade or free agency as long as Iguodala is still on the team.
His contract, which has four years and $56 million remaining, would be cost prohibitive -- unless by some miracle the Sixers can trade Samuel Dalembert or Elton Brand instead.
Don't hold your breath on that one.
So if anyone with a big contract on the Sixers is going to go, Iguodala will likely be the one.
The only teams willing to take on Iguodala's contract are teams with a chance to win a championship. That's why the teams rumored to be interested in Iguodala so far are Cleveland, Phoenix and Houston.
Iguodala would no doubt love a chance to play with LeBron James in Cleveland; or with a good young Rockets team that could have Yao Ming back next season; or to take passes from someone like Steve Nash in Phoenix rather than Lou Williams in Philadelphia.
The Cavs would provide the ideal scenario for Iguodala to be like Pippen. The only real adjustment he'd have to make would be to understand that late in close games, James will be getting the ball and not him.
That would probably be a good thing, however, considering Iguodala's propensity to fire up off-balance 19-footers at the buzzer that clang off the rim. But that's mainly because the Sixers have few options.
Besides, if teams double James knowing that he's getting the ball, James does have the capability of passing off to Iguodala, who likely will be open much closer to the basket.
The trade will also make it easier on James defensively because Iguodala can guard the opponents' best perimeter player, allowing James to be fresher late in games. Pippen often did that on the great Bulls teams of the 1990s, keeping Jordan fresh.
If it's Houston, Iguodala would be one of many capable scorers. Iguodala could pair up with Trevor Ariza and Shane Battier to give the Rockets perhaps the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. And assuming Yao comes back next season, Houston could easily become a championship contender in the West.
In Phoenix, Iguodala could thrive the way Shawn Marion used to when he was there, getting no-look passes from Nash, slashing to the basket and passing out to 3-point sharpshooters, something the Sixers have never had.
For now, Iguodala is saying the right things, that he's not thinking about the trade rumors. But Iguodala has to be salivating at the opportunity to play his ideal role -- a very good player on a championship team.
