The Warriors anticipate that longtime veteran leader Andre Iguodala will announce his return to the club, writes Marc Stein on Substack. Iguodala has previously suggested he will publicly reveal his decision during an upcoming episode of his podcast Point Forward, co-hosted by his former Sixers teammate Evan Turner.
Stein reports that Golden State expects Iguodala, who has won four titles with the team, will be back for his 19th NBA season in 2022/23 rather than opting to retire, but is prepared for either outcome. The Warriors top off their 2022 training camp earlier than most other teams, as they will be playing exhibition games abroad.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Elsewhere in his latest Substack piece, Stein suggests that the Lakers consider Russell Westbrook and new addition Dennis Schröder to be their top two point guards. Sources inform Stein that the Lakers see the 6’1″ Patrick Beverley, who started as a point guard alongside shooting guard D’Angelo Russell last season with the Timberwolves, as a swingman who can defend and shoot from long range, rather than a point guard, heading into his 11th NBA season. Stein writes that L.A. intends to use Kendrick Nunn, Austin Reaves, and Lonnie Walker at the shooting guard or small forward position instead of point guard.
- Earlier today, Schröder led his native Germany to a win over Poland to secure a bronze medal in this year’s EuroBasket contest, per Eurohoops. The 6’3″ Lakers point guard scored 26 points on 7-of-10 shooting. “That was the goal of the federation, of coach Herbert and for the team and it’s an unbelievable feeling to win a medal in a Eurobasket,” Schröder said after the game. Schröder’s performance in tournament play this summer reportedly helped his cause in free agency.
- NBA commissioner Adam Silver seemed uncomfortable at being forced to defend the misbehavior of temporarily suspended Suns team owner Robert Sarver in a Wednesday press conference, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Sarver has been banned from having any role with either Phoenix basketball club he owns, the Suns or the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, for the 2022/23 season.
Schroder will be the starting guard for Lakers and Westbrook will be off the bench to guide the second team.
Yes
This decision has been made
Coach Ham won’t fix Westbrook
What is westbrook production/salary ratio?
Schroder will start…
because Westbrook will be on another roster
The Warriors struggled to achieve what they did last year, inexperienced youth and injured veterans. With Iggy, Drayton, and Klay healthy, and more experienced likes of of Moody, Kuminga, and Wiseman, the Warriors could be unstoppable.
Can’t wait for Drayton to be healthy…
Westbrook will be traded. Nunn and Beverly can backup Schröder. Conley and Bogdanovic for Westbrook makes a lot of sense. Gives Utah opportunity to tank. Just buy out Westbrook. And then pick up two #1 picks. This best case scenario for all involved imo. Westbrook can go where he is wanted.
Lakers being patient is paying off. Westbrook move is inevitable.
Interesting that now it seems (maybe) LAL is posing as if they’ll hold on to Russ and punt to cap space next summer
IDK … Bron has 4 rings in what’s soon to become a 20 year career — I might be more impatient to get my 5th and 6th …
Someone will love that expiring contract and give up two serviceable guys for him. Lakers will jump on it and won’t have to give up anything else. The only hitch in that plan is Lakers desire for cap space next summer.
I’m looking forward to Andre Igoudala play one more season. I know his role will be limited but he’s so loved and respected around the NBA I want to see him get his flowers. Then I want to see him work with Johnathan Kuminga and Moses Moody one more year. They both have a chance to be special. I think Andre Igoudala will be great as a assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors after he retires. Stephen Curry Klay Thompson Draymond Green and the GSW just loves him. Steve Kerr is crazy about him. Then they both went to Arizona. I can see the fit being seamless.
I really think the Los Angeles Lakers have had a much better off season than last year. They got younger with the signings of Lonnie Walker IV, Juan Toscano-Anderson, Troy Brown Jr., Damien Jones, and Thomas Bryant. Then drafted Max Christie was good too because it gives them a developmental piece. Then getting Cole Swider and Scotty Pippen Jr. as two undrafted free agents was good too. Then I like the trade for Patrick Beverley. Then signing Dennis Schroder back was a nice move to. Then I say all that to say this. We still got our 2027 & 2029 First Round Picks. So unless we can package them for a Star ain’t no need to move them.
Young star like Ben Simmons to defend every position
Turner, Hield and 2029 First to Nets
Westbrook, 2028 First Swap and 2027 First to Pacers
Ben to Lakers
I think Andre Iguodala looks beyond coaching.., like team ownership or stuff like that. He has his sights set very high.
Overall for the lakers it still smells the most sense for them to trade Russ, start Beverly and have Schroder off the bench.
Russ has proven to be a failure in LA, Beverly is a proven leader that can defend well and play off ball for Bron, and Schroder is proven to be a solid bench contributor.
Just as an example Russ and 2 firsts for Buddy Heild and Myles Turner.
Beverly Heild Bron AD Turner
Schroder as sixth man
Bron is the main ball handler, AD main scoring option, Heild as the best outside shooter and Beverly and Turner both stench the floor too.
Defensively Beverly is great on the perimeter, Heild kinda sucks, Bron is not the beast he was but can do a job on the wing, AD is a beast defensively and Turner is an elite rim protector.
Schroder off the bench gives you a good scoring option, can run the offence and is a good defender too.
It would resemble a well rounded team, capable of winning a championship. Just get it done.
If it fails Bron leaves in a couple seasons but you have a core of Heild AD and Turner. Heaps of money to spend but unfortunately no draft picks.
Beverly does stench the floor
Smell and stench as predictive text typos. I wonder what you’re usually texting about.
Pelinka is an idiot!