By Michael Moraitis--Featured Columnist
Follow Michael on Twitter: @michaelmoraitis
The Denver Nuggets not only have to worry about making a decision about who their next head coach will be, but the organization also has to decide if it will re-sign Andre Iguodala or let him walk.
Iguodala is set to make around $16 million next season, or at least he was before he opted-out of the final year of his deal in Denver, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Now, Iguodala will test the free agency waters in July.
The question is: should the Nuggets fork over the money and the years necessary to bring back their forward?
During the 2012-13 season, Iguodala's numbers were pretty pedestrian for a guy who was once thought to have the skill set to be a star in the NBA and for the price tag that he comes with.
Iguodala averaged just 13 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in 80 starts. Granted, those are solid all-around numbers and his defense is also a plus, but is he really worthy of a contract worth $16 million per season?
I would say no, which also leaves me puzzled as to why Iguodala is opting out after a less than stellar regular season. Does he honestly believe he can get more money and years on the open market for his services with stats like those?
Chances are there may be a team desperate enough to sign him for what he was set to make next season before he ended his contract early, but the Nuggets shouldn't be one of those teams.
Quite frankly, Denver can bring in another player or two for the money Iguodala will be looking for and in turn match the production they lose from their swingman.
Let's face it: Iguodala has never panned out the way experts thought he might and he's become an average player in this league--no more, no less. In fact, Iguodala's scoring average hasn't been higher than 14 points per game since the 2009-10 season and it's probable those numbers won't improve as he gets older.
Besides, the Nuggets style of play is about more than just one player, so why would Denver tie itself up in a big, long-term deal for a player who can be replaced sooner rather than later?
If its more money and years Iguodala is looking for, the Nuggets would be better off passing up the chance to bring him back.
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