LONDON — The only way forward Andre Iguodala and the Nuggets are going to get their mitts on the Larry O’Brien Trophy is if Dwight Howard sends Denver a small chunk of the prize as a thank-you note.
General manager Masai Ujiri has completed another brilliant trade on behalf of the Nuggets. In the process, Ujiri also greatly reduced Denver’s chances of winning a championship.
The four-team trade facilitated by the Nuggets shipped Howard to Los Angeles, which already had an embarrassment of riches in Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and the Laker Girls.
Welcome to the NBA. This is a world owned by superstars and their egos. Iguodala is just a pawn in this game.
It was painfully clear he was less than thrilled to have his next career move dictated by the whims of Howard. “You take ups and downs in life, period,” Iguodala said. “That’s part of the game.”
It’s a part of the game that stinks.
Iguodala isn’t asking anybody to feel sorry for him. As part of his reward for being a member of the U.S. Olympic team and an NBA all-star, the 28-year-old forward will be paid $14.7 million during his first season in Denver, which also could be his last. Iguodala can opt out of his contract in 2013 and seek a spot on one of those super teams that are all the rage.
“I’m happy to be in the NBA. Happy to still have a job,” said Iguodala, a versatile player blessed with superb defensive skills who ultimately fell out of favor in Philadelphia because he never seemed comfortable being the man to strap a team on his back. “It’s just a blessing, because only 400 guys get to play in the NBA. And I’m happy to be a player wanted by so many teams.”
His words were pure, 100 percent fake sugar. The smile on his face seemed to be applied by paint. Iguodala is no doubt an ultimate professional. But, I had to know, was he really happy to be joining the Nuggets?
“I’m happy to play basketball,” Iguodala replied, dryly. “I don’t care if I was playing in Alaska.”
Every minute of his eight-year pro career had been played with Philadelphia, where Iguodala averaged 15.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists. He’s considered a valuable member of the U.S. Olympic team for his willingness to fill a secondary role on a roster dominated by LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Nuggets coach George Karl will love Iguodala, long on the radar of team management. He can be a point forward that Danilo Gallinari is not. It was a poorly guarded secret Ujiri has been scheming for a way to add Iguodala to Denver’s roster. The 6-foot-6 swingman is a significant upgrade over Arron Afflalo, who departed along with Al Harrington to Orlando in the trade.
On the eve of Team USA’s lopsided 109-83 Olympic semifinals victory against Argentina, Iguodala was informed he would be moving to a new NBA city upon his return home from the Summer Games. I believed it when Iguodala said the news unsettled family members but did not faze him, because he had been the topic of trade speculation for months.
“I’ve become immune to it. It’s part of the business,” said Iguodala, who scored two points in a little more than 11 minutes during the rout of Argentina. “With the way our game is now, you’re not surprised by anything. You’ve got to expect the unexpected.”
The blockbuster NBA trade overshadowed everything on the court, and became the talk of Olympic basketball venue. “No (joke),” said Lakers star Pau Gasol, who will lead Spain in the gold medal game against the United States.
When I tried asking Serge Ibaka how the deal would affect his Oklahoma City Thunder, he tersely said: “I’m not talking about that right now.”
Iguodala added he knew when Howard forced the Magic to make a trade that a major market would benefit.
So, isn’t that irritating to a player’s competitive spirit?
“Right now, Team USA is the best in America,” said Iguodala, smiling in his red, white and blue uniform.
Even tougher than the Miami Heat or the Lakers?
“Yeah,” Iguodala told me, punctuating his response with laughter. “We’d be better than both of them.”
It’s funny now.
It won’t be amusing when the NBA season begins.
