OAKLAND, Calif. _ The payroll calculus is definitely not going to be easy for the Warriors to re-sign Andre Iguodala this summer. Everybody around the Warriors and the league knows this.
First, the Warriors have to re-sign Kevin Durant. That is the No. 1 issue facing the Warriors this summer because they don't have his Bird Rights yet.
So Iguodala and Shaun Livingston _ both pending free agents who remain very valuable to this very talented team _ could be very tricky to squeeze in for 2017-2018 because they would have be renounced (and lose their Bird Rights) if the Warriors need to fit Durant's contract into cap space.
But it can be done _ at least for one of them _ mostly if the player wants it to be done, and I would say the main focus is on Iguodala, who is playing at an incredibly high level right now, is immensely important in the playoffs and looks like he could do this for many more seasons.
That's why I asked Iguodala about this specifically when he sat down for a podcast chat recently.
And I think it's pretty clear from his answers that Iguodala has thought through this situation, has had good general conversations with GM Bob Myers, is very happy with the Warriors and is looking to many more years here.
It doesn't mean Iguodala is guaranteed to re-sign with the Warriors, because you never know what complications might arise.
But to my knowledge, this is the clearest Iguodala has ever stated the likelihood that he and the Warriors can work this out.
We don't know what the dollars or years might be, but if the Warriors want him back (which they very much do) and if Iguodala wants to be back (and he does) then that's usually more important than the estimated numbers available.
Here's an excerpt from our conversation:
