Lakers Rumors: Western Conference to keep Andre Iguodala from Lakers?
By Ronald Agers
Thought it was the Houston Rockets didn’t you? They’ll try, but this team can actually land Andre.
The Houston Rockets still have Daryl Morey. They will try to swing a deal based on the fact they are winning regular season games without the ingredients to win a playoff series. The Rockets still can’t stop anyone. That alone will have Morey trying to swing a deal without Nene’s contract being an under the table deal.
Rockets are no longer able to use Nene’s full $10M salary as trade chip, per league and union agreement. Houston signed Nene, discussed similar proposal for Iman Shumpert, potentially to move for someone like Andre Iguodala. Nene still has opportunity to earn $7.4M in bonuses. https://t.co/8lOxEj67w6
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 19, 2019
The Dallas Mavericks actually has a contract that won’t raise red flags all over the NBA. The contract belongs to journeyman Courtney Lee, at $12.8 million. Unlike Nene’s contract, the Mavs can realistically get them close to matching salaries with Iguodala.
Their problem surrounds the first-round pick. Like the Lakers, they face the Stepien Rule meaning they can’t give the Grizzlies a first-rounder in upcoming drafts. The Mavs dealt away picks in 2021 and 2023 to the New York Knicks to acquire Kristaps Porzingis last February.
The Mavs may keep their picks as a backup plan for a younger player if the Iguodala scenario doesn’t work out. They’ve offered Memphis a second-rounder in the summer, which was quickly rejected.
Dallas could offer a package of Lee and wing Dorian Finney-Smith, with a second-rounder or two. The Mavs have the rights to the Warriors’ second-round pick this year, which could prove to be an intriguing asset considering that the Golden State warriors stink.
Another way the Mavs’ can swing a deal is with the trade exception they hold from the Harrison Barnes deal, worth $11.7 million. The Mavs can take on a player with a contract less than that value without giving up anything in return. Lake Show Life is not sure what Iguodala’s contract will be worth pro-rated but it is an option nonetheless.