Empty the Bench

We’re quite fond of Philadelphia 76ers restricted free agent Andre Iguodala ‘round here. You might even say that we harbor somewhat of a man crush on this hulkster.

Measuring 6-6 and 207 pounds and built in the mold of LeBron, capable of playing both small forward and shooting guard, plays the passing lanes as well as any defender, nearly unstoppable when he takes the rock to the basket, bone-shattering dunker—there’s a whole helluva lot to like about this 24-year-old veteran of four NBA seasons.

And, yet, like fellow ETB favorite Josh Smith, Iguodala remains in the lurch as far as his contract status goes. His incumbent franchise, the Sixers, have been slow to move on a new deal for their rising star having spent the first half of their offseason stealing Elton Brand from the Clippers, resigning G Lou Williams to a new five-year deal, and picking up free agents Kareem Rush and Royal Ivey. We can’t necessarily quibble with GM Ed Stefanski’s priorities thus far—after all, they can match any deal sent Iguodala’s way—but the time has come for the team to make a move one way or the other.

Andre Iguodala Photo Credit: Icon SMI

Either lock Andre Iguodala up to a five- or six-year deal or start exploring sign-and-trade opportunities. Situations like this can only drag on so long before getting ugly, and though Smith and guys like Ben Gordon (overrated!) remain in limbo many of the league’s premier restricted FAs are starting to fall like dominos (see Luol Deng, Emeka Okafor, Andris Biedrins, Williams, etc.)

Kelly Dwyer recently weighed in on the Andre Iguodala situation for Ball Don’t Lie, raising what he thinks would be an intriguing option for Stefanski and the Sixers should they choose to part ways with Iguodala: swap him to the Dallas Mavericks for Josh Howard.

So why not give Iggy his 12-million per year, ship him to Dallas with Willie Green, and take Howard on? The Mavs get a Richard Jefferson-esque oop partner for Jason Kidd, someone to run enough with to dupe media types into thinking that Dallas is a fast-break team (like Kidd and Jefferson did in New Jersey), backcourt depth in Green, and they cut ties with Howard for a player almost four years younger.

Philly gets a smoother shooter who can create, defend, and knows how to contribute when the looks aren’t there, or the looks aren’t falling. Better yet, at two more years for 20 million and then a team option for 11 more, the 76ers stay in contract control. Also, Willie Green stinks.

It’s an interesting thought, though our love for Iguodala and general disdain for the long-term future of the Mavericks make us hope such a scenario does not come to fruition. The Sixers do need some consistent outside shooting, and I’m not sure Howard necessarily fills that role.

What about a sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons in a package chiefly involving Richard Hamilton? The Philly native is coming off one of his best overall seasons and remains one of the league’s best, most consistent mid-range shooters who has also added the three-point shot to his game in recent years. God knows the Pistons would be scary by pairing the slashing, defensive-minded Iguodala with second-year PG Rodney Stuckey in the backcourt. (Chauncey Billups, of course, remains the starter at PG in Detroit… for now.)

We anxiously await a resolution to Andre Iguodala’s restricted free agency.

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- Thanks for the Memories, ‘Sheed, But It’s Time to Move On - Five Trade Ideas Involving the Detroit Pistons and Rasheed Wallace