NBA Rumors: Andre Iguodala nearly signed with the Houston Rockets this summer, which would’ve gone a long way in thinning out the Golden State Warriors
As the 2017-18 draws closer and closer – NBA training camps officially open in less than a week – the Golden State Warriors once again sit atop the league as overwhelming favorites to win the NBA title.
Thanks in large part to re-signing Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala this summer, the Warriors are returning every key piece to a team that dominated the 2017 NBA playoffs.
However, there was at least one point this summer when that wasn’t a given. According to ESPN, Andre Iguodala, Golden State’s key reserve, was extremely close to being a Houston Rocket.
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"[via ESPN]Iguodala wasn’t budging from his request to make at least $16 million per year. If the Warriors didn’t improve their offer, he was signing with the Rockets, sources said.After an hour, both sides departed and a breakup appeared likely. Iguodala’s camp proceeded to discuss their options. The Warriors’ top reserve was inching closer to becoming a top reserve for the Rockets. But before Rosenthal was to call Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Antonio and Golden State to notify them of his client’s decision, sources said Iguodala elected to make his final, most defining move yet: calling Golden State one more time."
In the end, Iguodala and the Warriors were able to find the right middle ground, but it’s at the very least quite interesting that it was that close.
With that said, hearing this story has to be deflating for the rest of the league. Knowing that taking one of the biggest pieces off the Warriors was nearly a done deal has to hurt, especially for a team like the Rockets.
Not only do the Warriors have to have two of the five best players in the NBA, in Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, but they also have to have arguably the best best player in the NBA. That’s why the Warriors are unrelenting – and, quite simply, all but unbeatable.
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Nevertheless, the Golden State Warriors continue to catch every break – on and off the court.