LA Clippers Rumors: Grizz adamant Andre Iguodala will not be bought out
The Memphis Grizzlies are adamant that they will not buy out Andre Iguodala but will instead find a trade partner. What does this mean for the LA Clippers?
It’s no secret that both the LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers want Andre Iguodala on their roster come playoff time. There’s a slight problem though. The Memphis Grizzlies are adamant that they will not buy out the former All-Star and will instead find a trade for him ahead of Thursday’s deadline.
The Clippers have an easy path to get Iguodala. Any trade would have to include Maurice Harkless for salary purposes along with either Jerome Robinson or Rodney McGruder. Whether or not getting one of those two players entices Memphis is another story. The Clippers do have their first-round pick this year that they can trade but moving it for an expiring 36-year-old seems out of the norm for a front office this forward-thinking.
Iguodala has not played a single game for the Grizzlies this season after the two sides agreed he would stay away from the team while they tried to work out a deal to send him elsewhere. At one point Iguodala seemed like he would force a buyout but with no real leverage, that noise subsided.
Earlier this season we discussed why moving pieces for Iguodala didn’t make sense and with all the other trade chatter, it seems like there are better targets the team has in mind. The only real advantage of trading for Iguodala would be that the Lakers don’t get him. Although he hasn’t played this season, Iggy still looked like he could contribute to a contender in last year’s playoffs.
He’s still one of the better wing defenders and having him on our side of the ball to stick on LeBron James as opposed to him checking Kawhi Leonard or Paul George would be a great advantage. Still, giving up the team’s only assets still seems like a steep price.
Next. Tristan Thompson is reportedly available. dark
Yes, there is the small chance that everyone calls Memphis’ bluff at the deadline and they are forced to buy him out but I’d be willing to bet that they stay true to their word and manage to deal him.