Reports: Andre Iguodala to opt out

[CelticConcourse]

Denver Nuggets guard Andre Iguodala is expected to opt out of his contract for next season and become a free agent, according to multiple reports.

An All-Star and the Nuggets' best defender, Iguodala is set to make $16.2 million next season. By opting out, he'll have the ability to sign a five-year contract with the Nuggets or a four-year deal with another team.

Iguodala averaged 13 points, 5.4 assists and 5.3 assists last season, his first with the Nuggets after arriving in a four-team blockbuster trade from the Philadelphia 76ers that also involved Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum.

Iguodala helped the Nuggets to a 57-25 record and the Western Conference's No. 3 seed. However, Denver was upset by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, which led to the firing of George Karl, the 2013 Coach of the Year.

Former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is expected to interview for the Nuggets' vacant head coaching job this weekend. Team president Josh Kroenke has said he's in no hurry to hire a coach or GM.

Karl's dismissal came less than a week after Masai Ujiri, the league's Executive of the Year, left the Nuggets to take over as GM of the Toronto Raptors.

In perhaps a bit of good news, Danilo Gallinari, who was expected to miss at least half of next season following surgery to repair a torn ACL, may return sooner than expected.

Gallinari underwent surgery this week at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, where he was operated on by noted surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman.

Team spokesman Tim Gelt forwarded a statement from the clinic to The Associated Press on Friday night that read: "Danilo Gallinari had an arthroscopic procedure to promote healing of his ACL tear, which was found to be partially torn at the time of surgery. Dr. Steadman has performed over 2,000 of these procedures. We are hopeful that Danilo will return to basketball sooner than if he had a complete ACL reconstruction."

Gallinari also posted a video Friday on his official Facebook page in which he delivered the good news, saying in Italian that his recovery time will be "completely different" that previously expected.

lol, look what you've done Denver! Idiotic!

Denver is a massive fail lol, they're never gonna get a championship -_- Where's AI headed?

[pearljammer10]

I dont see how Iggy opting out makes Denver idiotic. Its Iggy's choice to test the open market Denver has nothing to do with it. Now he will either get a long term deal from them or another team for equal or more money and be secure for the rest of his career.

The GM got a ridiculous salary from the Raptors, which makes sense he would go there.

The only dumb move Denver has made that it seems they've had control of is firing Carl. That makes no sense to me. Denver is one of those on the border teams that can really play well during the season but just doesnt have the right pieces or the "it" players to contend in the playoffs.

[Evantime34]

I'm curious about where he will end up. Maybe Houston if they don't get Dwight? Maybe Atlanta or Dallas if they don't get Dwight?

[CelticConcourse]

I dont see how Iggy opting out makes Denver idiotic. Its Iggy's choice to test the open market Denver has nothing to do with it. Now he will either get a long term deal from them or another team for equal or more money and be secure for the rest of his career.

The GM got a ridiculous salary from the Raptors, which makes sense he would go there.

The only dumb move Denver has made that it seems they've had control of is firing Carl. That makes no sense to me. Denver is one of those on the border teams that can really play well during the season but just doesnt have the right pieces or the "it" players to contend in the playoffs.

To be honest, if I were a player I wouldn't want to be coming off a 3rd-seed season and then to see my GM and my coach to get fired. It all seems like trouble!

[Moranis]

I'm curious about where he will end up. Maybe Houston if they don't get Dwight? Maybe Atlanta or Dallas if they don't get Dwight?

Cleveland is the front runner.  Lots of cap space and a glaring hole at SF.  They also have an owner that wants to win and their young superstar that is getting impatient.

[Fafnir]

I'm curious about where he will end up. Maybe Houston if they don't get Dwight? Maybe Atlanta or Dallas if they don't get Dwight?

Cleveland is the front runner.  Lots of cap space and a glaring hole at SF.  They also have an owner that wants to win and their young superstar that is getting impatient.

And a history of making win now moves around number 1 picks.

[LooseCannon]

The only dumb move Denver has made that it seems they've had control of is firing Carl. That makes no sense to me. Denver is one of those on the border teams that can really play well during the season but just doesnt have the right pieces or the "it" players to contend in the playoffs.

The Nuggets are the poster child for the "treadmill of mediocrity".  George Karl is seen as having a lot to do with that.

[JSD]

I'm curious about where he will end up. Maybe Houston if they don't get Dwight? Maybe Atlanta or Dallas if they don't get Dwight?

Cleveland is the front runner.  Lots of cap space and a glaring hole at SF.  They also have an owner that wants to win and their young superstar that is getting impatient.

And a history of making win now moves around number 1 picks.

They should keep as much flexibility for now as possible and make their splash next summer. Granger is the better get for them as he only has 1 year left of his deal.

[blink]

so is Iggy still a $15mil / year player?  I mean that is what we are paying PP and I think Paul is better than Iggy, and I think PP is a bit overpaid. 

[CelticConcourse]

I'm curious about where he will end up. Maybe Houston if they don't get Dwight? Maybe Atlanta or Dallas if they don't get Dwight?

Cleveland is the front runner.  Lots of cap space and a glaring hole at SF.  They also have an owner that wants to win and their young superstar that is getting impatient.

And a history of making win now moves around number 1 picks.

They should keep as much flexibility for now as possible and make their splash next summer. Granger is the better get for them as he only has 1 year left of his deal.

I'm probably in the minority here but I'd take LeBron over Granger.

[JSD]

I'm curious about where he will end up. Maybe Houston if they don't get Dwight? Maybe Atlanta or Dallas if they don't get Dwight?

Cleveland is the front runner.  Lots of cap space and a glaring hole at SF.  They also have an owner that wants to win and their young superstar that is getting impatient.

And a history of making win now moves around number 1 picks.

They should keep as much flexibility for now as possible and make their splash next summer. Granger is the better get for them as he only has 1 year left of his deal.

I'm probably in the minority here but I'd take LeBron over Granger.

Lebron is the reason the Cavs should keep as much wiggle room as possible heading into next summer. Granger and his contract are a 1 year rental that allows them to keep that flexibility while still filling a need with borderline all-star caliber talent. Now, the asking price for Granger is a whole other ballgame, but the Cavs do have the ability to simply absorb him, which is an asset in itself as Indiana makes resigning West their top priority this off-season. The Pacers might really value that possible cap relief.