Golden State Warriors: 5 Reasons Why Andre Iguodala Isn’t an Option

May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) defends Denver Nuggets shooting guard Andre Iguodala (9) on the drive during the first quarter of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Andre Iguodala might seem like a great option for the Golden State Warriors, as he hurt them a lot in the first round of the playoffs. He is one of the top free agents this year, as well as a star who plays great defense and can hit the clutch shot.

He’s one of those players who can simply do it all. He’s good-looking to almost every team, including the Warriors.

Acquiring him, however, wouldn’t be a very wise option. It decreases the Warriors depth, provides salary cap issues, messes up the team chemistry, and could possibly stun the growth of other superstars in the making. There are a lot of negatives to the trade, and the Warriors shouldn’t consider going through with it.

1. Salary Cap:

We all know that the Warriors are facing issues, with Stephen Curry’s extension kicking in, and David Lee getting paid more and more each year. They can only afford Jarrett Jack, and possibly a backup power forward in free agency.

The deal would surely have to be a sign-and-trade. These types of deals are always beneficial, but the last thing that the Warriors need is another superstar with a huge contract who could possibly leave the team if unhappy.

2. Harrison Barnes is Rising:

Why trade for an older, already blossomed small forward when you’ve already got a guy in Harrison Barnes who could one day be one of the best small forward’s in the game? Barnes had breakout success in the playoffs, where he saw his points per game go up to 16.2 as oppose to 9.2 in the regular season.

This showed the Warriors that he’s ready to take his game to the next level. When he and Klay Thompson score in high figures, the Warriors win, so we know that they already have the chemistry.

3. Chemistry:

As said before, Thompson and Barnes – two of the Warriors’ crucial players — have chemistry. Throw Iguodala into the rotation, and all of that is gone.

During crunch time, it may be he and Curry fighting over possession of the ball. It could also be he and Thompson fighting for defensive control. The Warriors already know that they can play together when they score higher numbers, but as a former All-Star, Iggy may not mix into the rotation too well.

4. Already Deep:

The deal for Iggy would almost certainly be a sign-and-trade, likely sending players like Barnes, Draymond Green, and another bench player over to the Nuggets. That’s not a very good deal for the Warriors, considering that Barnes and Green, two of the toughest rookies, really embraced the moment and the spot light during the playoffs.

Sure, Green’s defense was the cause for loss in Game 1 of the quarterfinals, but still, he continued to hit 3-point shots, and was third in scoring for rookies in the playoffs (Barnes was first).

5. One Rises, One Falls:

If Iguodala manages to fit into the rotation somehow, he will almost certainly take away valuable points and playing time from other players, stifling their growth as superstars.

A guy like Thompson could continue to grow until he’s at superstar level, or he can stand in the background averaging around 10 ppg on a playoff team. Iggy’s arrival would surely do this to either him or Curry.