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When asked to clarify his answer - considering it was anything but clear - Iguodala continued down the same fuzzy path. "I think it's something I've always dreamed about, playing in the league," Iguodala said. "Once I got here, I think I've always wanted to be in one place, not having to move around a lot, being comfortable in one spot." Iguodala never actually said he didn't want to return to the Sixers. He danced around igniting an aggressive offseason controversy, but he tossed in a cup of passive-aggressiveness for confusion. Iguodala has not asked Sixers management for a trade, but the team will be looking to trade him this summer. Sixers coach Doug Collins has finally found a nucleus of guys - Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, and Jodie Meeks - who enjoy playing for the Sixers. Veteran power forward Elton Brand, in addition to having an anchor of a contract, serves as a complementary presence for those guys. Philadelphia Inquirer

This brings us to the main question each Sixers fan must ask this offseason: Do you care for whom Iguodala is traded?

Two deals that have been whispered about in NBA circles highlight the different directions this move could take.

Some league folks have hinted that the Sixers and Memphis Grizzlies could discuss a swap of Iguodala for Memphis' injured star Rudy Gay. The Grizzlies are making an impact in the Western Conference playoffs without Gay, who went down with a shoulder injury late in the season.

The salaries match: Iguodala will make $13.5 million next season, while Gay will make $13.6.

Gay is under contract through the 2014-15 season, meaning the Sixers would take on an extra year of salary (approximately $20 million) in such a trade.

But the biggest question is: Should the Sixers trade Iguodala for a similarly skilled player? Or should their focus be on an area of need - the center spot, for example - while also opening up minutes on the wing for returning sophomore Evan Turner?

Another trade that was discussed last season involved trading Iguodala to the Los Angeles Clippers for big man Chris Kaman.

Kaman has only one year remaining on his contract - $12.2 million for the 2011-12 season. He also would provide talent and experience in the low post, while relieving the franchise of a good chunk of the remaining millions on Iguodala's contract.

This offseason will be crucial in taking the Sixers from mediocre to good, and to do so won't involve just the decision of whether or not to trade Iguodala. They also need to hit a home run in what they get in exchange.

Here's the breakdown of how NBA general managers feel about the remaining $56 million on Iguodala's contract. Approximately half of the GMs believe he's paid appropriately, perhaps slightly overpaid but nothing that would prevent them from making a deal. And half believe he's overpaid and wouldn't trade value for him.

eyeteeth wrote:Yeah, if you get Iggy, I think you have to keep Beas over Wes. Wes is just too much of a maybe to be a team's no. 1 shooter.

shrink wrote:Half the GM's think he's paid OK, maybe a little overpaid, and the other half think he's so overpaid they wouldn't trade for him. I am in the latter camp.

I am surprised at just how much trade value several Wolves fans are willing to give away to inherit that contract. Yes, Iggy is a good player, and he's a good fit. But he is overpaid for a non-star, no upside, doesn't draw fans, common position player. If you're going to pay Iggy $15 mil/year .. that's more than enough. We shouldn't have to include assets.

It's not like we're forced to take him. How about keeping our pick, Beasley, or Wes Johnson, and simply trying to sign a player like Wes Chandler?

Esohny wrote:

shrink wrote:Half the GM's think he's paid OK, maybe a little overpaid, and the other half think he's so overpaid they wouldn't trade for him. I am in the latter camp.

I am surprised at just how much trade value several Wolves fans are willing to give away to inherit that contract. Yes, Iggy is a good player, and he's a good fit. But he is overpaid for a non-star, no upside, doesn't draw fans, common position player. If you're going to pay Iggy $15 mil/year .. that's more than enough. We shouldn't have to include assets.

It's not like we're forced to take him. How about keeping our pick, Beasley, or Wes Johnson, and simply trying to sign a player like Wes Chandler?

Wes Chandler?

Klomp wrote:

eyeteeth wrote:Yeah, if you get Iggy, I think you have to keep Beas over Wes. Wes is just too much of a maybe to be a team's no. 1 shooter.

You could say the same about Beasley. But Wes at least has the potential to be a standout spot-up shooter. Beasley will always try to do too much, rather than just spot up.

shangrila wrote:

Klomp wrote:You could say the same about Beasley. But Wes at least has the potential to be a standout spot-up shooter. Beasley will always try to do too much, rather than just spot up.

Beasley was an excellent spot up shooter this season.

AQuintus wrote:And you really can't say the same about Beasley. Beas is light years closer to being the number 1 scorer on a good team right now than Johnson will ever be.

Klomp wrote:

eyeteeth wrote:Yeah, if you get Iggy, I think you have to keep Beas over Wes. Wes is just too much of a maybe to be a team's no. 1 shooter.

You could say the same about Beasley. But Wes at least has the potential to be a standout spot-up shooter. Beasley will always try to do too much, rather than just spot up.

Rashoismydad wrote:Go get him.

Move any combination of #20, Utah pick, Beasley, Flynn, Pek, Darko, Webster.

When we end up with pick #4, I will at least feel ok about:

Rubio/Ridnour
Iggy
Wes
Love/AR
Biyombo/Pek

Thats a good amount of defense around Love, 2 handler/creators in Rubio and Iggy, and shooters in Ridnour/Wes/Love. Plus a Rubio/iggy/Wes/AR/Biyombo lineup could provide some of the best transition/fast break entertainment in the league.

eyeteeth wrote:Two things.

One, if the Wolves can swing a deal for a #6-10 pick and can get Burks, consider that Iggy is not better than Burks + 12 mil of other assets. Or is Iggy's D and experience worth $12 mil? Because that's the argument otherwise. On the offensive end, Burks has a lot of the same talents and could potentially develop a jump shot sometime down the road.

Two, if the Mavs win it all, I bet all the major players re-sign there. Y'all are awful glib about picking up Chandler or Haywood.

AQuintus wrote:

shangrila wrote:

Klomp wrote:You could say the same about Beasley. But Wes at least has the potential to be a standout spot-up shooter. Beasley will always try to do too much, rather than just spot up.

Beasley was an excellent spot up shooter this season.

Beasley - 0.93 PPP spotting up (194 plays), 35.1 3pt%, 0.88 PPP ISOs (482 plays)
Johnson - 0.96 PPP spotting up (239 plays), 35.6 3pt %, 0.68 PPP ISOs (74 plays)
Iggy - 1.03 PPP spotting up (180 plays), 39.3 3pt %, 0.77 PPP ISOs (239 plays)

Based on the synergy sports stats, Beasley is the best at creating his own offense in ISO situations (by quite a bit), and Iggy is the best at spotting up (also by quite a bit). They're a match made in Heaven.

Edit:

And you really can't say the same about Beasley. Beas is light years closer to being the number 1 scorer on a good team right now than Johnson will ever be.

Esohny wrote:

eyeteeth wrote:Two things.

One, if the Wolves can swing a deal for a #6-10 pick and can get Burks, consider that Iggy is not better than Burks + 12 mil of other assets. Or is Iggy's D and experience worth $12 mil? Because that's the argument otherwise. On the offensive end, Burks has a lot of the same talents and could potentially develop a jump shot sometime down the road.

Two, if the Mavs win it all, I bet all the major players re-sign there. Y'all are awful glib about picking up Chandler or Haywood.

Chandler is probably staying in Dallas, as many have been saying for a while. And are you saying that Haywood's crappy contract would suddenly be worthwhile because he happened to be on a successful team? Dear Lord, Adam Morrison and Darko have rings; doesn't make them valuable.

AQuintus wrote:

shangrila wrote:

Klomp wrote:You could say the same about Beasley. But Wes at least has the potential to be a standout spot-up shooter. Beasley will always try to do too much, rather than just spot up.

Beasley was an excellent spot up shooter this season.

Beasley - 0.93 PPP spotting up (194 plays), 35.1 3pt%, 0.88 PPP ISOs (482 plays)
Johnson - 0.96 PPP spotting up (239 plays), 35.6 3pt %, 0.68 PPP ISOs (74 plays)
Iggy - 1.03 PPP spotting up (180 plays), 39.3 3pt %, 0.77 PPP ISOs (239 plays)

Based on the synergy sports stats, Beasley is the best at creating his own offense in ISO situations (by quite a bit), and Iggy is the best at spotting up (also by quite a bit). They're a match made in Heaven.

Edit:

And you really can't say the same about Beasley. Beas is light years closer to being the number 1 scorer on a good team right now than Johnson will ever be.

eyeteeth wrote:The "X" factor here is that Beasley is young enough that he will hopefully improve his game, and might score at a higher rate with more maturity and other good scoring options on the floor. Iggy is probably what he is already. Note, this is also true on defense.