Doug Gottlieb: “Not only did the Heat end up landing Andre Iguodala, but they gave him a contract extension. Everyone is saying ‘NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala! The missing piece! What a great trade!’ 'Now they’re on the same page as the Bucks!' and 'This elevates them above the Raptors and the Celtics!'… The Lakers wanted Iguodala but they wanted him on the buyout market, and wanted him for like 1 or 2 million. They wanted him for NOTHING. Now he’s going to make $30 million over the next two years?? During his time with the Warriors, not only did he average fewer points every year, 5 points a game last year, but he NEVER averaged double-digits with them. He hasn’t played over 30 minutes a game in the last five years. He’s like an All-Star caliber car you can only drive on weekends, but if you pay a guy $30 million over two years, that’s not a weekend car, that’s an everyday car. In his own words last May, when asked about being hurt and injured he said ‘just a lot of minutes and overuse, I’m old… My career is almost over anyway so I really don’t care.’ This was LAST MAY he said this! The idea that Andre Iguodala is Ponce De Leon and is going to find the Fountain of Youth somewhere in Miami is laughable. The Heat got so boondoggled and got so desperate thinking they were a championship team and ended up screwing the whole thing up.” (Full Video Above)
Listen to Doug Gottlieb explain why he thinks a ‘desperate’ Miami Heat team got played by former NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, as the former Golden State Warriors staple essentially came out of retirement to play for an upstart Heat team who has been the league’s biggest surprise.
The Heat, currently fourth in Eastern Conference at 34-16, sent former lottery pick Justise Winslow to the Grizzlies for Iguodala. Winslow was the tenth overall pick in 2015 but has immensely struggled on the offensive end ever since he came into the league, shooting just .417 from the field for his career, including 38.8% this season.
The Lakers and Clippers were also reportedly the frontrunners to land Iguodala, but were more interested in a contract buyout than surrendering assets.
Gottlieb was puzzled why the Heat would acquire Iguodala and instantly sign him to a two-year extension. Iggy just turned 36 last month and hasn’t averaged in double-digit scoring since the 2012-2013 season as a member of the Nuggets.
Check out the video above as Gottlieb details why he never saw the Heat as a legitimate contender with or without Iguodala, and explains why he thinks this will ultimately be a bad move for Miami.