Miami Heat acquire Andre Iguodala from Memphis Grizzlies
Friday 7 February 2020 02:13, UK
The Memphis Grizzlies included forwards Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill as part of the trade that sent Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat, the teams announced on Thursday.
In exchange, Miami is sending forward Justise Winslow and guard Dion Waiters to Memphis. The Heat also shipped forward James Johnson to Minnesota, with the Timberwolves trading center Gorgui Dieng to Memphis in the three-team arrangement.
"Today is a very good day because we think the acquisition of Andre, Jae and Solomon will help us with our versatility and create a more balanced roster," Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement.
Iguodala reportedly agreed to a two-year, $30m extension with the Heat, with the second year (2021-22) a team option.
Iguodala, 36, won three championship rings with the Golden State Warriors, but he was dealt to Memphis during the offseason as part of a cost-cutting move.
Iguodala never played a game with the Grizzlies, instead receiving permission to stay away from the team as he requested a trade to a preferred destination.
Iguodala's prolonged absence irked Grizzlies players, including Dillon Brooks, who recently told reporters, "I can't wait till we can find a way to trade him so we can play [against] him. Show him what Memphis is all about."
Speaking after the Grizzlies' win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, Brooks doubled down on his previous comments. "Now we have a player that we are getting that actually wants to play with us and thinks we're good," he said.
Brooks' team-mate Ja Morant, who also recently engaged in a social media tiff with Warriors guard Stephen Curry about Iguodala, said he didn't care that the Iguodala drama with the Grizzlies has apparently ended.
"That is in the past. It's over with," he said. "We are going to play with the players that are on the floor."
In his career, former Finals MVP Iguodala has averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists per contest. He also has appeared in 145 playoff games, during which he has averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 boards and 3.9 assists. He was an All-Star in 2011-12 and the MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals.
The Heat will be Iguodala's fifth team. He spent eight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, one season with the Denver Nuggets and six seasons with the Warriors before his turbulent stint with Memphis.
Winslow, 23, was in his fifth season with the Heat, averaging 11.3 points, a career-high 6.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists. In 241 career games, he has averages of 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Waiters, 28, has appeared in only three games in his eighth NBA season, averaging 9.3 points and 3.7 rebounds.
Johnson, 32, is averaging 5.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18 games off the Miami bench this season, his 11th NBA campaign.
Crowder, 29, has started 45 games for the Grizzlies in his eighth NBA season. He is averaging 9.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Hill, 28, is playing in his seventh season. He is averaging 5.7 points and 3.0 boards through 48 games (three starts).
