A return to the Sixers for Andre Iguodala would make no sense
Is the small forward using the Sixers to drive up his contract numbers?
With the start of NBA free agency less than three days away, there are going to be a lot of reports about the 76ers' interest in certain free agents, and vice versa.
Let's face it: The Sixers have a ton of cap space, just as they did in the previous four seasons. So, on occasion, some player agents leak out news that their clients are being pursued by Philadelphia.
They also leak out that their clients wouldn't mind being a veteran leader if they'll get paid royally for it. And folks realize the young Sixers are the best team to accommodate their needs.
So social media goes haywire with reports about the Sixers' possibly signing a free agent who no one expected them to be in the running to get. Then we learn the player has signed with another team for more money than he was offered before the Sixers got into the mix.
It's called using the Sixers to drive up the price. And it has happened over and over again.
So forgive me for doubting that Andre Iguodala will ever come back to Philadelphia.
The swingman didn't exactly have a great relationship with the fan base during his tenure here. The ninth overall pick in the 2004 draft was traded to the Denver Nuggets on Aug. 10, 2012 because he wanted out of the Sixers organization.
Yet, we learned on Tuesday that the Sixers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, and Los Angeles Clippers join the Golden State in wanting to sign the Warriors small forward once free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, according to ESPN.
However, it's unknown if he will meet any of those squads, per the report. That's like saying to the Warriors, "I won't talk to the other teams if y'all make it worth my while. But if not, I'm going to try to get paid."
For those reasons, and Iguodala's history in Philly, it's kind of hard envisioning his return to the Sixers.
Plus, why would a 33-year-old, who has made more than $110 million, leave a team that has won two of the last three NBA titles for a squad that averaged 18.6 wins while rebuilding during that time?
Follow and contact 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter and on Instagram at PompeyOnSixers.