The Miami Heat have acquired veteran swingman Andre Iguodala from the Memphis Grizzlies in a 3-team trade, the team announced Thursday. In addition, Miami has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $30 million extension with the 2015 NBA Finals MVP, the last year a team option.
Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill will join Iguodala in Miami, while Memphis will acquire Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Grizzlies have traded Johnson to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for forward Gorgui Dieng, in a deal first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Waiters isn’t expected to remain on the roster, per Chris Haynes.
Miami’s efforts to expand the trade and acquire Oklahoma City’s Danilo Gallinari did not work. The Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers both reportedly tried to deal for Iguodala, but couldn’t sway Memphis.
The 36-year-old Iguodala hasn’t played for the Grizzlies since being traded by the Warriors over the summer. With the team’s approval, he’s been on standby, apart from the rest of the roster until further notice. Iguodala played in 68 games for Golden State in 2018-19, averaging 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 23.2 minutes.
Iguodala, speaking to The Undefeated, said he was eager to play alongside Jimmy Butler and Miami’s young core — saying he looked forward to helping mentor them as well.
“Jimmy Butler … he’s looked at as different but (is) very well-respected in terms of the passion and the hard work that he brings to the game,” Iguodala said. “I feel like his temperament and values that he has really resonates with the Miami Heat. They’re very well aligned. I think he’s brought out the best in those young guys.”
Iguodala specifically mentioned Heat center Bam Adebayo, a first-time All-Star this year.
“Bam, I’m really looking forward to playing with him,” Iguodala said.
If Winslow ends up in Memphis, the Grizzlies will be acquiring a player whose multipositional talent — notably running the point for long stretches — has been muted by extended spells on the injured list. The 23-year-old has appeared only 11 times this season due to a bone bruise in his back and also a concussion, and hasn’t played more than 68 games since his rookie year (2015-16). Last season, Winslow averaged 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.3 minutes, shooting a career-high 43.3% from the floor, including 37.5% on 3s.
Winslow indicated in a tweet that he was part of the deal, reaching out to fellow former Duke players Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen with a message. Jones and Allen are both members of the Grizzlies.
@1Tyus @GraysonJAllen MY BRUDDAS✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
— Justise Winslow (@IAmJustise) February 6, 2020
Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks, who said earlier this week that he was looking forward to playing against Iguodala one day “and show him really what Memphis is about,” said he was eager to play with Winslow.
“We’re getting a good player,” Brooks said. “Now we have a player that we’re getting that actually wants to play with us and thinks we’re good. We can keep the ball rolling.”
Teammate Ja Morant, who amplified Brooks’ sentiment about Iguodala on social media, told reporters: “It’s over with, and we’re looking to play with the players that are on the floor. We’re handling business.”
More players and picks are expected to move before the deal is made official. Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill were both held out of Memphis’ win over Dallas because they were likely to be involved in the pending trade. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, without commenting specifically on the still-not-completed transaction, said Crowder and Hill “really helped build something great here in Memphis.
The Heat went into the trade deadline prioritizing perimeter defensive help, which made Iguodala a perfect fit. It was not immediately clear when he would join the Heat, which was starting a five-game trip in Los Angeles against the Clippers on Wednesday.
“We’re ready to go to war,” said Heat star Jimmy Butler. “We know we can compete with the best of them.
“He’s super smart. There’s nothing he cannot do. When I get to learn from him, when everyone gets to learn from him, that winning level, that meter, is going up in everyone’s mind.”
Holding the team option for 2021-22 is a critical component for Miami, which intends to have maximum flexibility for free-agent shopping in the summer of 2021 and made clear to all teams in recent days — and even last summer — that it would not compromise those plans.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra declined to discuss the deal when speaking with reporters in Los Angeles.
Miami would be the fourth team that Iguodala has suited up for — joining Philadelphia, Denver and Golden State. He has averaged 12.1 points in 1,108 career games, plus is a veteran of 145 playoff contests and was with the Warriors for all five of their NBA Finals runs over the last half-decade.
He’s a three-time champion and two-time All-Defensive team member, and getting him is a clear sign that the Heat are expecting to be a postseason contender.
“Excited to get back out there,” Iguodala said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
