One of the most entertaining sagas of the 2019-20 NBA season has finally come to a close. According to Shams Charania, the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat are finalizing a trade that would send Andre Iguodala to South Beach in return for Justise Winslow.
Miami Heat Acquire Andre Iguodala from Memphis Grizzlies
Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat
Former Finals MVP Iguodala will don a new uniform the next time he suits up in the NBA. After an ongoing debacle in Memphis, he is on the way to Miami where he has reportedly agreed to a two-year extension worth $30 million. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Heat will send Winslow to Memphis as they surrender youth for a potential Finals push.
The deal might not end with just Miami and Memphis, though. According to Keith Smith, the Oklahoma City Thunder may find their way into the deal as the Heat pursue Danilo Gallinari. Updates will be provided as more details emerge. Further details of the trade have yet to be released at this time.
Breaking: The Grizzlies have agreed to trade Andre Iguodala to the Heat, sources tell @wojespn.
Iguodala agreed to the trade and has agreed to a two-year, $30M extension with the Heat. pic.twitter.com/WifgDK8wR0
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 6, 2020
The trade officially ends Iguodala’s controversial tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Golden State Warriors traded the 36-year-old over the summer, though Iguodala would never suit up in Memphis. Instead, the organization allowed him to sit out until they found a trade partner.
Iguodala averages 12.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for his career, but those stats are a bit misleading. His averages took a hit when he settled into a supporting role for the Warriors, but his sacrifice ultimately led to three titles and a Finals MVP.
Now, Iguodala will join a Miami Heat team that seems to be cashing in their chips in pursuit of another NBA championship. Currently, the Heat and Boston Celtics are tied for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. They are just 1.5 games behind the second-place Toronto Raptors, though the Milwaukee Bucks are lapping the competition for first place.
Justise Winslow to the Memphis Grizzlies
Things couldn’t look better for the Memphis Grizzlies. Not only has the organization doubled down on young talent, but they’ve gotten great return value for pieces they no longer needed. The rebuild is going better than expected as they currently hold the eight-seed in the Western Conference and a .500 record through 50 games.
And now, they’re adding Winslow.
This season, Winslow has only played 11 games due to injury. However, he averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in those contests. The 23-year-old will add immediate depth when healthy, and could easily become another great supporting piece for the Grizzlies.
The acquisition of Winslow itself may not instantly bring fireworks to the imagination. However, when looking deeper, the sparks start to fly. In essence, the Grizzlies traded Mike Conley, Jevon Carter, and a 2024 second-round pick for Brandon Clarke, De’Anthony Melton, Jae Crowder, Grayson Allen, Josh Jackson, Winslow, and up to four future draft picks. That’s a haul, folks.
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