Kiszla thinks Iggy will become a Free Agent next year...

[setman2000]

I really thought Iggy would take the $16 million guaranteed next year and become a free agent in 2014. He's not playing up to a top contract this year so it seems like $16 mill. for next year is pretty good $$$! Here's Kiszla's article in todays Post:


To score 13.5 points per game, Nuggets forward Andre Iguodala is being paid $15 million per year, give or take a Porsche.

Even by the wacky standards of the NBA, that does not compute.

No way, no how, is Iguodala worth the money.

So here's the key question for Denver coming down the stretch: Can the Nuggets afford to build a contender around Iguodala, given the constraints of the NBA salary cap and this franchise's aversion to paying the luxury tax on talent?

Iguodala is a clamp-down defender, a true professional and a compelling interview.

But the NBA is not a spelling bee. You don't get paid $15 million for giving intelligent sound bites or getting eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

For $15 million, was it too much to expect for the 29-year-old Iguodala to lead the Nuggets in scoring, be an all-league defender and stamp his personality on the locker room?

His defense has met expectations. The rest of the shiny package? Empty.

After 50 games with the Nuggets since arriving in trade, Iguodala is in danger of finishing with career lows for field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and rebounds per game. But the real head-scratcher is why an Olympic gold medal winner from the Dream Team hasn't been more forceful in establishing high standards for these young, often- inconsistent Nuggets.

"It's a little bit of an adjustment. It's hard to change habits, especially when you're the new guy coming into a new situation," Iguodala said Thursday. "There are some things guys have been accustomed to doing their whole careers, and when you come in here, you can't just jump on them right away and say, 'Change it.' It's a process."

When Denver traded for Iguodala during the Summer Olympics, the scouting report compiled from coaches, scouts and analysts in London contained consistent praise with one caveat: The Nuggets are going to love Iguodala, but don't expect him to be a star in any sense of the word. No ego issues. No big dividends.

So was it too much to expect Iguodala to lead the Nuggets in scoring and shoot better than 60 percent from the foul line? Coach George Karl is never afraid to tell me I'm wrong, so I asked him.

"I'm not unhappy. That's unrealistic. You thought he'd be our leading scorer? I never thought that," Karl said. "He's a good scorer for us, and we have other guys we plug in. The way we play, we don't tilt the offense to one player until the end of the game. We just play basketball, go out, run and see who gets the touches."

According to the coach, Iguodala has checked the box when it comes to distributing the ball and improving the team's defensive mind-set. Karl admits the pace of play has sometimes been a challenge for Iguodala.

"His professionalism, it's not vocal ... but he's a pro. He prepares the right way; he's ready to go; he works his tail off," Karl said. "He hasn't seen that window or the opportunity to become the vocal leader of the team. But, in the first three or four months with a team, that's not unusual."

You can unearth basketball metrics that argue Iguodala is among the NBA's premier defensive players. But there are also advanced stats that suggest the nine-year pro is struggling worse than at any time since his rookie season, despite Karl's transition-friendly offense that seems ready-made for Iguodala's skill set.

Iguodala is the highest-paid player on Denver's roster.

But is he really more valuable to the Nuggets' future than Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari or Kenneth Faried? Given salary cap constraints, would it be wise for Denver to make Iguodala among the league's 15 top-paid players?

Iguodala has a clause in his contract that allows him to opt out of his $16.1 million salary for next season and test the open market. While both Iguodala and the Nuggets are certainly open to the idea of him staying in Denver for the long run, the team currently expects he will enter free agency.

When Iguodala joined the Nuggets, the onus seemed to be on the team to prove it could make him happy in the long run.

The onus has shifted.

At this point, Iguodala must also prove he can carry the Nuggets down the road to NBA championship contention.

[BRAVE KID]

I don't know how Uriji is going to handle this one. Iggy is clearly a superior defender..take him off the team and we're a lot worse.

Thinking back. Just how ideal is the situation for Iggy when he got traded to Denver? He was already considered one of the games best defenders...come to a team that has historically never played defense..make them better, while making yourself look even better,...the result? A big *** pay day from somebody.

[setman2000]

I don't know how Uriji is going to handle this one. Iggy is clearly a superior defender..take him off the team and we're a lot worse.

Thinking back. Just how ideal is the situation for Iggy when he got traded to Denver? He was already considered one of the games best defenders...come to a team that has historically never played defense..make them better, while making yourself look even better,...the result? A big *** pay day from somebody.

$16 Mill/per is a big *** contract. The question is, is he worth a max? Max is about $20 mill under the new rules isn't it? The only teams that could pay him that are bad teams with lots of cap room and why would he want to do that? I hope he takes the guaranteed $16 next year and lets it playout for 1 more year before push comes to shove.

[Poz303]

Not surprised by this at all. This is the Nuggets plan and Iguodala's plan as well. He said earlier in the year he would be willing to opt out of the $16 Million if he could get $60 Million. That is, get a 5 year contract worth $60 Million.

I would expect Masai will put an offer in for 5 yrs/50-60 Million. This would drop his salary to around 10-12 million a year. I hope it would be more around the 10-11 million like our other top players (Gallo, Lawson, McGee???). But would I keep him over Faried...NO. So there will be a time where we have to pay Faried and likely move someone on a larger contract.

[SLY WILLIAMS]

Not surprised by this at all. This is the Nuggets plan and Iguodala's plan as well. He said earlier in the year he would be willing to opt out of the $16 Million if he could get $60 Million. That is, get a 5 year contract worth $60 Million.

I would expect Masai will put an offer in for 5 yrs/50-60 Million. This would drop his salary to around 10-12 million a year. I hope it would be more around the 10-11 million like our other top players (Gallo, Lawson, McGee???). But would I keep him over Faried...NO. So there will be a time where we have to pay Faried and likely move someone on a larger contract.

I like Iggy but based on age and declining production the Nuggets may want to think twice about a 4 year 60 mill deal. A 2-3 deal at reasonable salary would make more sense. Also could be a possible trade piece.

[Poz303]

BTW, luxury tax for 2012/2013 season is 70.3 Million. Nuggets Salary right now is about 64 Million.

Assuming the Luxury tax limit remains at 70 Million for next season (that is, teams dont have to pay Luxury tax if they remain below 70 Million is salaries), Re-work Iggy's contract to 10 million (first of 5 yr contract.. lowest salary of the 5 yrs). That saves us 6 Million on his player option contract.

That gets the Nuggets down to 62 Million in salaries for 2013-2014 season. but this is without Mozgov, Brewer and Stone.

Andre Miller is due $5 Million next year (and this year) and after is comments about needing a super-star... I dont mind moving him... unless GK wants to prove him wrong and sticks with him, but his comments obviously go against GK's philosophy.

So we either have 8 Million to sign 3 players (one being Brewer), or 13 Million to sign 4 players (Brewer + a back-up PG).

[Kurple]

i like brewer, but FT shooting (and shooting in general) is a problem for this team in the long run. And it's a problem that has to be fixed at some point.

need to replace either iggy, brew or one of the bigs for a good FT shooter. I'd trade Brewer first

[SoFreshNsoClean]

I like Iggy but based on age and declining production the Nuggets may want to think twice about a 4 year 60 mill deal. A 2-3 deal at reasonable salary would make more sense. Also could be a possible trade piece.

I agree

[3iverson3]

2-3 yr deal would most likelg mean more money. this article was reallly retarded. The only interesting thing brought up was what you bolded. The iggy situation could be tricky but he might want to stay since we are doing good. Hope he stays becuse he brings so much with his all around game. He has to guard the opps best players and is doing a heck of a job

[SLY WILLIAMS]

2-3 yr deal would most likelg mean more money. this article was reallly retarded. The only interesting thing brought up was what you bolded. The iggy situation could be tricky but he might want to stay since we are doing good. Hope he stays becusebrings so much with his all around game. He has to gaurd the opps best players and is doing a heck of a job

What is his free agent value right now? I have to imagine is is significantly below 16 mill. It may be best for him to keep the deal.

[bahama0811]

I don't listen to much Kiszla has to say, most of what he says is to drive ratings and get attention. Not a big fan of his...

[BRAVE KID]

BTW, luxury tax for 2012/2013 season is 70.3 Million. Nuggets Salary right now is about 64 Million.

Assuming the Luxury tax limit remains at 70 Million for next season (that is, teams dont have to pay Luxury tax if they remain below 70 Million is salaries), Re-work Iggy's contract to 10 million (first of 5 yr contract.. lowest salary of the 5 yrs). That saves us 6 Million on his player option contract.

That gets the Nuggets down to 62 Million in salaries for 2013-2014 season. but this is without Mozgov, Brewer and Stone.

Andre Miller is due $5 Million next year (and this year) and after is comments about needing a super-star... I dont mind moving him... unless GK wants to prove him wrong and sticks with him, but his comments obviously go against GK's philosophy.

So we either have 8 Million to sign 3 players (one being Brewer), or 13 Million to sign 4 players (Brewer + a back-up PG).

And his comments about him starting. If only Stone didn't get hit with that injury. His development could have forced Dre out with Uriji's patent stealth move.

It was up to Karl, Nene would of never been moved. Karl definitely doesn't want to move Dre. If Uriji can find a way to add a PG that is better than Dre but ***** about Ty being the "future" we'd be set.

[SoFreshNsoClean]

reserving judgement on alot of key players till after the playoffs

[BirdIsTheWord]

reserving judgement on alot of key players till after the playoffs

This.

But I will say that this team is greatly improved with Igg. I'd love to have him back but not at a contract similar to what he's on now.

I'm interested to know how Kroenke feels about the luxury tax as we could be headed there soon. I'd hate to go down the same road as the Grizzlies.

[Manimal]

Kiszla is a lesser known Skip Bayless. In other words he's a lesser known wind-up merchant. Which frankly is quite poor. I mean atleast Skip Bayless gets national attention.

Love what Iggy brings to the team. Unfortunately his contract is not sustainable in the current CBA. He is just as important as Gallo and Ty. So if we can get him to sign a contract in that range , 4yr deal worth between 42M to 48M, it would be great.