And just like that the Denver Nuggets have joined the Dwight Howard rumor mill.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nuggets are in talks with the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers about a blockbuster trade involving Dwight Howard.
In the deal the Nuggets would land Andre Iguodala and trade Al Harrington (to the Lakers) and Arron Afflalo (to the Magic). Afflalo is in the second year of a five-year, $43 million deal, he is also two years younger than Iguodala.
Harrington has three years left on his deal, and the final two years are only partially guaranteed.
Howard would end up on the Lakers and Andrew Bynum would be traded to the Sixers. Pau Gasol would join Afflalo in Orlando.
It would be an interesting move for the Nuggets. Both Afflalo and Harrington were two of the Nuggets top players last season, averaging 15.2 and 14.2 points. And some observers even consider Afflalo a better player than Iguodala.
However, Iguodala’s athleticism and speed would be an ideal fit for the Nuggets fast-paced offense. He is a very unique shooting guard, with a very versatile game. He lacks a reliable jump shot, but is a good passer and great ball handler. He is also considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the League and is one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA.
Iguodala, who has two years left on his contract worth around $30 million, was a player the Nuggets were interested in when they were trying to trade Carmelo Anthony two years ago. He is currently playing with the USA basketball team at the Olympics.
He averaged 12.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last season and has a career average of 15.3 points a game. Iguodala was also teammates with current Nuggets point guard Andre Miller from 2006-09. Those were also arguably the three best years of Iguodala’s career, averaging more than 18 points each season.