After spending the past six seasons with the Warriors and winning three rings, Iguodala was dealt to the Grizzlies in a cap-clearing move to take on D'Angelo Russell. On the rebuilding Grizzlies, Iguodala doesn't figure to have much of a role on the court, and Memphis is reportedly working on trades to get the veteran elsewhere. Still, wherever he lands, it's unlikely he'll have much fantasy value. Across the past five seasons, he's averaging just 6.9 points on 5.4 shots, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steal across 25.7 minutes. Fantasy owners in extremely deep leagues have reason to consider Iguodala with their final draft pick, but there's little upside for Iguodala's 2019-20 campaign.
Iguodala’s 64 games in 2017-18 marked the third time in five years that he’s appeared in fewer than 66 contests. In what was his age 34 season, Iguodala posted his fewest points per game (6.0) of his career, plus a career-low 28.2 percent clip from beyond the arc. What’s managed to keep his Fantasy value relatively afloat is his ability to post solid supplementary stats. Last year, he averaged 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 combined steals/blocks. Still, his sub-par field-goal percentage (46.3) and his ugly free-throw percentage (63.2) didn't do him any favors. Considering Golden State didn't do much over over the summer to improve its depth on the wing, Iguodala should still be in line to play a sixth-man role. However, as evidenced by recent seasons, it’s unlikely he'll be Fantasy relevant in standard formats and can safely be ignored in most Fantasy drafts.
The addition of Kevin Durant last summer resulted in Iguodala’s minutes per game dropping for an eighth consecutive season, but that didn’t make the sixth man any less valuable in the Warriors’ eyes; in fact, he was more efficient than at any point in his career. In addition to leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.5:1), Iguodala submitted a 62.4 true shooting percentage -- surpassing his previous career best by almost three full points -- and offered his usual smothering defense while routinely matching up with the opposition’s top perimeter threat. While those accomplishments made Iguodala the perfect complementary player on a team full of elite talents, his meager averages of 7.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steals made him a rather uninspiring Fantasy option. Despite garnering interest in free agency from several teams that could have carved out a larger role for him, Iguodala elected to re-sign with the Warriors in July, inking a three-year, $48 million pact. WIth the likes of Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green still in the fold, Iguodala is unlikely to see his playing time or usage pick up in 2017-18, thereby limiting his Fantasy utility once again. So long as the Warriors are competing for another title, however, Iguodala should be perfectly content with serving as the team’s top glue guy off the bench.
Iguodala has made a big sacrifice with Golden State. A life-long starter since high school and earlier, Iguodala was asked to come off the bench in 2014-15 by head coach Steve Kerr, who envisioned that Harrison Barnes, and ergo the team, would be better as a complementary piece in the Warriors' loaded starting lineup. Iguodala wasn't happy with the new role, but he swallowed his pride and earned himself an NBA Championship to go alongside his Olympics Gold Medal (2012). After starting every game he's ever played in 10 NBA seasons, Iguodala came off the bench in all 77 games played in 2014-15. He averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals in 27 minutes per game. His per-game averages were all career-lows, so he's certainly taken a statistical hit offensively. Off the bench, Iguodala focused on his defensive acumen and worked as a ball-handler who can take the burden off Stephen Curry. What he isn't off the bench is the unit's go-to scorer. That's not his game; it wasn't as a starter nor is it as a reserve. But when it mattered the most, in the playoffs, Iguodala had a bigger role, highlighted by his 37 minutes per game in the NBA Finals and earning the Finals MVP Award.
Iguodala's first season in the Bay Area was a mixed bag. He provided the Warriors with a defensive mentality, being named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team. Iguodala also served as an offensive facilitator and an added ball handler, but he was limited to 63 games and scored the fewest points of his career. He also took fewer shots per game (7.3), the lowest mark since his rookie season. But we expected a scoring drop-off when he signed with the Warriors, a team with multiple scoring options. His primary job was to be a lineup bonding agent, and in that respect, his year was a success. Iguodala averaged 9.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 32 minutes per game. He also reversed the decline in his free-throw shooting, improving from 57 percent the year before to 65 percent. Iggy attempted just 2.1 free-throws per game, the fewest in his career, indicating that he didn't have the ball in his hands as often as he was used to when he was with Philadelphia. Aside from the scoring, his 2013-14 per-game production was in line with his career averages. But injuries limited his playing time and made him ineffective for stretches while playing hurt. New head coach Steve Kerr has talked about using multiple options as his starting small forward, mentioning Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green as possible replacements, but Iguodala's defense is too important to leave on the bench against opponents' best scorers.
Iguodala's lone season in Denver didn't stray dramatically from his previous two seasons with the 76ers, as he continued to deliver elite perimeter defense to go along with his typically steady across-the-board production. What is somewhat troubling for Iguodala is his decline as a free-throw shooter; after remaining over 70 percent for the first six seasons of his career, Iguodala has fallen below the mark for each of the past three seasons, dipping to a career-worst 57 percent in 2012-13. He'll try to get past those problems while joining a similarly up-tempo Warriors offense after agreeing to a four-year, $48 million pact in the offseason. With the Warriors, Iguodala will be asked to mask the defensive deficiencies of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson by matching up against the opposition's top wing player, while simultaneously keeping up with Curry on fast breaks and remaining an effective finisher at the rim. When the Warriors are in need of more of an offensive jolt, expect coach Mark Jackson to turn to the up-and-coming Harrison Barnes over Iguodala, who still hasn't added much of a long-range game to his repertoire after nine seasons in the league. Nevertheless, Iguodala still appears poised to regularly approach the typical 15-5-5 line we've grown accustomed to seeing from him over the years.
After eight seasons in Philadelphia, Iguodala was traded to Denver in the offseason. It’s a good fit on paper. The Nuggets love to run and finished first in the NBA in points per game last season. This fast paced style should lend itself to Iguodala’s ability to finish in transition. After playing on one of the 10 lowest scoring teams in the league last year, he should welcome a change of pace. Iggy has seen his scoring numbers decline each of the past four seasons, but given the change of scenery, there’s reason to believe that he should be able to plateau or exceed last season’s 12.4 points per game. Despite declining scoring tallies, Iguodala has kept up his strong numbers elsewhere, averaging 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists (second among forwards), and 1.7 steals (third among forwards) per game. The only cause for concern for Iguodala’s 2012-13 fantasy prospects is the number of capable small forwards on the Nuggets’ roster. Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler will certainly get plenty of minutes, but coach George Karl should be able to find ways to play two or even three of those players at that the same time for large stretches this season. His athleticism, and the departure of Arron Afflalo, should mean Iguodala will slot into the starting shooting guard role for the Nuggets.
Iguodala has been the focus of trade rumors for the last two years, so there remains a chance he could start the season on another team. Regardless of where he plays, we’ll probably see him continue to be used more as a playmaker and less as a scoring threat. Through 67 games played last season, Iguodala averaged 14.1 points (his lowest average since his sophomore season), 5.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.9 three-pointers, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.1 turnovers in 37 minutes. The ascension of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner will take the ball out of Iguodala’s hands even more in 2011-12, meaning he might lose a few assists, too, if he stays in Philly. While Iguodala’s been a model of health for most of his career, his 67 games played last season were a career low, due to tendinitis in his right knee. Nonetheless, he’s expected to be healthy for the start of training camp (whenever that is) and should continue to fill up box score no matter where he winds up.
One of the most important – and, frankly, most boring – components of a player's fantasy value is playing time. Playing time is informed by two factors: both (a) games played and (b) minutes per game. There are few players who excel at both factors simultaneously – it's difficult to play a lot of minutes without getting tired or, worse yet, hurt – but Iguodala is one of them. In five of his six professional seasons, the Sixer forward has played all 82 games on the schedule. In the other one, 2006-07, he still played 76. Moreover, Iguodala has managed to play substantial minutes during those 82 games. The 38:53 minutes he played per game last year actually represented a four-year low. Iguodala also benefits from his particular role on the Sixers, which is significant. He's unlikely to top 20 points per game – sitting more likely in the high teens – but he accumulates high assist totals for a small forward – Iguodala's finished with at last 4.8 assists in each of the last four years. Among possible threats to Iguodala's production this season, there are two, in particular, to watch for. The first is minor, and it comes in the form of second-overall draft pick Evan Turner. Turner's likely to start the season at shooting guard, and actually possesses the same sort of broad base of skills as Iguodala. Of course, it's just as likely that that Turner's presence takes some pressure off of Iguodala. The second concern is Iguodala's age. He'll turn 27 in January, and while that's far from old, it's probably towards the end of the peak years for basketball-type athleticism, on which much of Iguodala's game is predicated. Watch for this in his steal totals, specifically.
On the surface, Iguodala’s production last season appeared very similar to his previous years with strong across-the-board contributions but a slight step-back in scoring (18.8 ppg, down from 19.9 ppg in 2007-08). Upon closer examination, though, Iguodala averaged only 13 points through the first 17 games of the season then increased that average to 20.3 over the last 65 games of the year. There were two key changes that happened in that time period: Elton Brand got injured, and a coaching change prompted a return to the fast-break style. Brand is expected to return this season, but the Sixers are still expected to be a fast-break team which should mean good things for Iguodala’s output this season. Plus, with Andre’ Miller now residing in Portland, replaced by combo-guard Louis Williams, Iguodala should carry a larger play-making role which could mean more assists. Iguodala has also added a more consistent deep jumper in recent years (1.1 treys per over last two games), and is an iron-man who has played the full 82 games in four of his five NBA seasons. As a 26-year old player that’s just approaching his prime, Iguodala should be in for another strong season.
Iguodala finally got his chance to shine as the unquestioned number one option on offense for the Sixers, and he took advantage of it by setting new career-highs in scoring (19.9 ppg) and 3-pointers (1.2 3pg). He also improved his efficiency from the previous season, bringing his turnovers down to 2.6 per game and his field goal percentage back up to 45.6. Iguodala is an awesome athlete, with a muscular 6-6 frame and incredible leaping ability. He also has a quick first step for a wing player, and has increased his shooting range. With Elton Brand as the new focal point for the Sixers offense, Iguodala will likely get fewer shots but could return to the 50-percent shooting and almost six assists per game he put up in his first two seasons. When you throw in his strong rebounding (5.4 rpg), quick hands (career-high 2.0 spg), and iron man status (all 82 games started in three of four NBA seasons) you’ve got the recipe for a reliable all-around stat stuffer.
Savvy fantasy players already know Iguodala as a guard who contributes all over the stat sheet. What they may not realize is that, with Allen Iverson and Chris Webber out of the picture, Iguodala stepped up in the scoring and assist departments, and now merits selection ahead of much bigger names. In his first half-season as Philly’s number one option, Iguodala shattered his career-highs in scoring (18.2 ppg) and assists (5.7 apg), while maintaining strong production in boards (5.7 rpg) and steals (2.0 spg). On the down side, his turnovers increased (3.4 TOs per game) and field goal percentage (44.7) suffered. His scoring numbers should only increase this year, as he’ll have “first option” status from the first game on. The only hole in his game is three-point shooting (just .6 per game), but that may improve.
Although he improved marginally in his second year, Iguodala did not quite explode the way many thought that he would as a sophomore. At 6-6 with long arms and the leaping ability that almost won him the dunk contest last season, Iguodala has all of the physical gifts to be a stud. In his first two years he has shown that he can contribute in every category, with averages of 12.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 spg, 3.1 apg, 50% FG shooting, 75% FT shooting, and even almost a three pointer per game. This makes him an excellent garbage man that can help modestly across the board, but with his talent Iguodala should eventually move beyond that. Perhaps playing in an offense in which the vast majority of the touches go to Allen Iverson and Chris Webber is stunting Iguodala’s development, and if so, that may continue this season if neither are moved. But from watching him play one gets the sense that at some point Iguodala could have a McGrady-like leap in production.
Iguodala had a very promising rookie season last year, with positive contributions in almost every category and the potential to improve across the board as a sophomore. Iguodala is a long, athletic wing player that plays strong defense (1.7 steals per game) while also hitting the boards (5.7 rebounds) and dishing a few assists (3.0 per). He did not score very much as a rookie (9.0 ppg), but he shot good percentages (49% from the field, 74% from the line) and will likely be more aggressive now that he has his NBA legs. Iguodala is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none right now, but his potential for improvement makes him an intriguing sleeper pick at shooting guard this season.
The ninth-overall pick in this year's draft should contribute as a swingman for the Sixers this fall. Look for Iguodala to back up Willie Green at the two guard and play some small forward.
Iguodala can handle many positions, with his size, ball handing skills, and passing abilities. However, Iguodala failed to put up big scoring numbers in college and his ability to score will a questioned in the NBA. Iguodala could go in the mid first round, but he could also drop down to the early second round.
