Recent Lakers rumors are that they are hopeful to target Andre Iguodala if he is bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies.
With just one roster spot left, recent Lakers rumors have been about who will be the final person to fill out the team.
Since free agency has all but ended, there aren’t a ton of options left on the market. However, the possibility of players being bought out from their contracts is still viable, and the Lakers might wait to see what happens across the league.
One of the players that the Lakers have been linked to is Andre Iguodala. This summer, the Golden State Warriors traded the former Finals MVP in order to create the cap space needed to sign D’Angelo Russell. As a veteran that has just been on a dynasty with the Warriors, Iguodala’s interest in playing a full season with the Memphis Grizzlies is likely minimal.
Recently, Dave McMenamin of ESPN spoke about the Lakers being interested in Iguodala if and when he is bought out. Here’s what he had to say with text via Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll.
"“[The Lakers] feel good about the way they were able to build post-Kawhi: getting Danny Green, getting a guy like DeMarcus Cousins, bringing back some continuity from last year but leaving a spot open to potentially get Andre Iguodala if he’s bought out of his $17.2 million deal … they feel like he can be an ‘X-Factor’ type of guy to add with the group they already have.”"
While Iguodala is still under contract with the Grizzlies, it is hard to imagine that he will be there for the entire season. While the Grizzlies might be on a good path, they are nowhere near ready to compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Buyouts have become a very common thing in the NBA, and Iguodala is certainly a candidate for that. The Grizzlies might look to find a trade partner for Iguodala, but teams around the league know that he will likely be bought out eventually if they wait.
For the Lakers, Iguodala would be a great option for the 15th roster spot. He has spent a lot of time on winning teams in Golden State and certainly knows what it takes to win a title. As shown in the NBA Finals last season, he still has some gas left in the tank and was in the closing unit for the Warriors.
With links to Rob Pelinka as his former agent and a desire to win another championship, Iguodala to the Lakers makes a lot of sense. Now, we will have to wait and see what happens with his status on the Grizzlies.