Catching up with Iguodala
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Catching up with Iguodala
Today's a crucial day for the NBA: key representatives from the player's union and the ownership group will be meeting in New York. This will be only the second meeting since the lockout began on July 1. Because training camps are/should be only a month away, it's imperative that progress is made at this meeting if there's any chance of not missing a chunk of the season. Most in the league already feel at least some time will be missed, but if the sides can move closer together today, then maybe there's hope for only a small amount of missed time. We'll be following today's events in New York and will update later with word once the meeting adjourns.
Yesterday, we caught up with 76ers' swingman Andre Iguodala, who spent the weekend in Los Angeles with seven of his teammates. That full story will run in Thursday's (tomorrow's) edition of the Inquirer, but here's some of what Iguodala had to say. After battling injuries for much of the 2010-11 season, Iguodala said he took off more time than ever in his career (six or seven weeks) after last season. Iguodala also created a smidge of controversy by missing his exit interview, although he did have a doctor's appointment, also, so the whole thing sort of seemed like a bad miscommunication. Before the NBA locked out, Iguodala was being considered in a trade to the Golden State Warriors for guard Monta Ellis. Given his current situation with the team (read: they're open to trading him), it's a mature sign that Iguodala re-arranged a planned trip to Paris in order to make it out to L.A. to train with seven of his teammates: Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Jodie Meeks, Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner, and Craig Brackins.
Iguodala said that, while he thinks it's a longshot that he'd play overseas this coming season (assuming the lockout drags on), he'd listen to any offers. Considering the bulk of his remaining contract, and the cost of insuring that contract against injury, it's unlikely we'll see Iguodala playing overseas if the NBA remains locked out. He's spending most of his off season in Chicago, although he's already made trips to China, Paris, L.A., etc. He doesn't have any remaining big trips planned, but the team is expected to hold a similar gathering/team workout session in Atlanta at the end of September (which might give you an indication of the likelihood that training camp starts on time).
Iguodala on organizing the weekend in Los Angeles: "We were always talking about it during the summer, but we couldn’t figure out where. Lou, Elton, and I pretty much knew we were going to do it. Elton said, ‘Well the times are looking like this.’ And I was supposed to go to Paris last week, but I switched my dates around so I could be in L.A. I went to Paris earlier because that was the weekend everyone could go to L.A."
On the team's communication on defense, even in pick-up games: "It was funny because we were actually rotating, using our rotations, playing help-side defense and executing pick and roll defense. Guys were like, ‘Wow, you guys are really talking on defense.’ It was still there. That was funny to me."
On taking so much time off after the team's playoff loss to the Miami Heat: "It’s kind of tough, but I actually took off the longest I’ve ever taken off in six or seven years. I was just beat up, playing so many minutes. So I actually got to rest. I was cautious of not trying to kill myself, pacing."
On his meeting with coach Doug Collins just before the lockout began: "We spoke, it was really brief. It was about 10 minutes, it wasn’t long: "What we can do to improve, what our plans are going forward. It wasn’t too much. But, I’ve never had a problem with Doug, so we made that clear that we never had issues. So we were good."
If you want to follow all things Sixers on Twitter, you can do that here: Deep Sixer. We'll be holding a Live Chat on Friday at 1 p.m. here on philly.com.
--Kate
Each week, Kate will check in from the road and answer fan questions about the Sixers. Click here to ask Kate a question or e-mail her at kfagan@phillynews.com.
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I hope Iggy is not on the Sixers.
KEEP IGGY!..DEFENSE WIN CHIPS!..Don't give T.Young no more than 4 mil. If so, sign T.Young to 6mil. Then trade T.Young/Nocioni for C.Kaman/Amuni..This is a perfect trade, & benefits all parties, & both teams involved!..Then go get vet T.McGrady, or A.Parker for real cheap to back Turner/Meeks at SG. Either can mentor, tutor, & help Turner/meeks developement. Then go grab J.Pargo for cheap as well to back Jrue/Lou. Kaman will start & mentor vucevic, & Hawes..NOW THIS IS A COMPLETE, & CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.. & DIS "DA TRUTH"!..lol & go Sixers!— datruth- so he isn't working on his jumper?— main liner
- I am done with the NBA. College basketball is way more exciting anyway.— aerussel
- Young should be as close to 'untraceable' as the sixers should get. Move Iggy if possible...
— fillyfan - Iggy may be the best all around player in the NBA....ask him.— Short Circuit 3
- Iggy's problem has always been -- and will likely always be -- that he thinks he's Kobe Bryant but he's not. If he realized that he is a defensive specialist who can run the floor but can't shoot, he'd be a great asset on a team. As it is, he hurts the team in close games because he insists on taking the last shot and never, never, never makes it. He needs to go.— Vituperator
- trade him.— MIKEI
- Comment removed.
- Agree with fred_C38.. Keep Iggy!— dudega
- This team needs a true number one scorer and some size on the side. I hope the Ellis trade goes down......Love Igoudala but he won't lead anyone to a championship....— MrMiles1
- lol. Da truth has jokes. Tony Parker is not my type of player. I'll take mcgrady for the low. Backing up Meeks if no moves are made. I would make sure he never saw wade or lebron. But Chalmers, miller, jones, bosh, house, ud, Anthony. He would win the match up. Nice joke. Not very funny though.— combocancer1975
- F38 is right keep Iggy!!!!!! The only way I trade Iggy is for an offensive Front-court TERROR, we have enough back-court depth, if we could get Beasley involved in a t-wolves deal then I would pull the trigger, other than that no way!— Anguilla Al
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
