NBA Trade Talk: Los Angeles Lakers and 15 Teams Who Need Andre Iguodala

There has been much speculation revolving around Andre Iguodala over the past month.

Will he be traded?

What team covets him the most?

While it's nearly impossible as fans to distinguish between actual intention or shear speculation, we're still able to gauge which NBA teams need the Philadelphia 76ers forward the most.

Iguodala has become a household name for basketball fans over the past few seasons, becoming a solid scorer and an amazing dunk specialist.

As we inch closer to a resolution within the NBA trade market, Iggy is more than likely going to be dealt, making it interesting to see which teams warrant his services.

Here are the top 15 franchises who would want—and seemingly need—Andre Iguodala.

15. Philadelphia 76ers

Could Andre Iguodala stay put in Philadelphia?

The 76ers sure hope so.

If there's a chance to keep Iggy in a Philly uniform and bring in talent to complement him, ownership wouldn't have it any other way.

But with the current circumstances of Iguodala consistently being mentioned in trade rumors, the Sixers wanting to switch it up on offense, and Evan Turner ready to take over at the 2-spot, there's a slim chance he stays with the team that drafted him in 2004.

No home sweet home here.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland is a true long shot to land Andre Iguodala over some of the more established and playoff hungry teams.

But after drafting point guard Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 overall pick, Dan Gilbert could decide to unload whatever he can to grab Iggy and form a deadly one-two punch.

While it's highly unlikely the Philadelphia 76ers would be interested in Baron Davis' large contract or either one of J.J. Hickson and Antawn Jamison, the Cavaliers still rank among the top 15 teams that NEED Iguodala.

Maybe some sort of draft pick compensation could be in the mix, but it's simply wishful thinking.

13. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are a dark horse for Andre Iguodala's services, but he'd be a well needed addition.

Iggy could provide the Knicks with a scoring upgrade over Landry Fields at shooting guard and still offers solid defense against some of the better guards in the league.

The transition to New York wouldn't be that involved compared to moving from Philadelphia to Los Angeles or Orlando.

As it stands right now, the Knicks would have to give up some quality players to obtain Iguodala, but they definitely need what he has to offer.

12. Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats need a scorer.

After trading away Stephen Jackson for some young talent on Draft Day, specifically Bismack Biyombo, Michael Jordan's "dream team" is left with D.J. Augustin and rookie Kemba Walker to lead the way in scoring.

In order to get Andre Iguodala, who would immediately impact the offense and leadership on Charlotte, the Bobcats would more than likely have to surrender either one of their draft picks.

Regardless of how it may or may not get done, the team does need a player of Iggy's caliber.

11. Indiana Pacers

After trading both of their 2011 draft picks to the San Antonio Spurs for point guard George Hill, which is highly questionable considering they recently acquired fellow guard Darren Collison, the Indiana Pacers are still looking for a way out of the depths of the Eastern Conference.

Andre Iguodala could be the ticket.

Tag team him with Danny Granger and you have yourself one of the most athletic and explosive scoring combos in the conference, albeit Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.

The Pacers would have to formulate some sort of package for Philadelphia that would more than likely include young center Roy Hibbert.

Once again, Indiana is another outside shot to land the scoring 2-guard, but they could finally make the playoffs on a consistent basis if they pulled it off.

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Not only do the Milwaukee Bucks need Andre Iguodala's offensive presence, they could use the NBA star as a means of convincing fans—and even themselves—that keeping point guard Brandon Jennings is the right thing to do.

Iggy would instantly take pressure away from Jennings duties as an offensive facilitator, as well as providing rookie forward Tobias Harris with enough time to get comfortable scoring the basketball.

There's no doubt the Bucks need Iguodala, so attacking the market to do so seems like the best case scenario for Milwaukee's 2011 offseason.

9. Golden State Warriors

Not only has there been major speculation of Andre Iguodala being traded out west, but there's been rumors that he'd be traded for Golden State's Monta Ellis.

A swap like that wouldn't really impact either team in a playoff significant way, even though Philadelphia had better success in 2010-2011 than the Warriors.

Golden State could decide to package some of their bigger players like Andris Biedrins to acquire a scorer like Iguodala.

He may not possess the outside abilities of Dorrell Wright, but his offensive talents are better all around.

Getting Iggy and keeping Ellis could make the Warriors a serious threat, especially if it means keeping both of these players away from the Los Angeles Lakers.

8. New Jersey Nets

Is it just me, or doesn't it feel weird to still see Deron Williams on the New Jersey Nets?

Maybe just a little bit.

After acquiring Williams last year from Utah for main talents Devin Harris and Derrick Favors, the Nets are in need of one more major move that could send the fans begging for seats in the new Brooklyn arena come 2012.

Andre Iguodala would be an awesome fit for New Jersey and D-Will.

He'd be an instant offensive and defensive upgrade over former Golden State Warrior Anthony Morrow.

The Nets did trade for rookie MarShon Brooks on Draft Day, but that wouldn't stop them from grabbing Iggy in a trade.

He'd maybe even serve as trade bait.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder

It was fairly clear after the 2011 Western Conference Finals that the Oklahoma City Thunder could be one player away from becoming championship material.

With Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook locked in as one of the best tandems in the NBA, acquiring Andre Iguodala would put the team over the top.

Iggy is a great finisher at the hoop, solid from the outside, and a fairly unselfish player, making him a great candidate to rescue the Thunder from playoff aftermath.

Oklahoma did draft combo-guard Reggie Jackson, but the rookie from Boston College is nowhere near Iguodala is the talent department.

6. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers would love to have Andre Iguodala in their lineup.

Picture this.

Mo Williams throwing an alley-op to Blake Griffin then on the very next play, lobbing it up to Iggy.

It would be priceless.

Two of the best in-game dunk machines on the same team?

How do you not love that?

The Clippers would have to surrender some significant talent to keep Williams and Eric Gordon on the roster after trading for Iguodala, but an acquisition of this magnitude could launch them into instant playoff contention.

5. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have been the definition of an on the fence team.

They've consistently been among the top-four teams in the Eastern Conference, but have never been able to turn the corner and capture greatness.

Trading for Andre Iguodala could supply the franchise and the city of Atlanta with hopes of contending alongside the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat.

Ask anybody: The Hawks need to make a move this offseason or they're going to start to sink in the conference.

With Joe Johnson currently rocking the 2-spot, Iggy would move to small forward, which isn't that much of a reach considering his athleticism and physical play.

Trading Josh Smith for Iguodala is a possibility and one that Atlanta should entertain.

4. New Orleans Hornets

While I could go into different reasons why acquiring Andre Iguodala from the Philadelphia 76ers would help the New Orleans Hornets in offensive ways you can't imagine, there's only one aspect of this trade that truly matters.

Getting Iguodala could mean keeping Chris Paul.

Paul is one of the most competitive players in the league and has grown tired of falling up short year after year.

He's been rumored to be interested in either being traded before this season, or taking his chances as a free agent after 2012.

Having Iggy in the lineup would replace Marco Belinelli at shooting guard, creating a three headed monster with Paul, Iguodala, and Trevor Ariza.

Especially considering forward David West has decided to test the free agent market this offseason, the Hornets need to replace his absence with sufficient offense and leadership.

3. Orlando Magic

This scenario is very similar to the New Orleans Hornets.

Dwight Howard has already told the team that if they don't contend for a championship next season, he's going to go supernova and become a free agent.

Not only would this shift the leagues powers at the drop of a contract signature, but it could be the end of the Orlando Magic as an Eastern Conference threat for the next decade.

Trading for Iguodala could lead to two things.

One, a mesh with the Magic's rotation that enables the team to surpass their past playoff woes and reach the Finals once more for the sake of Howard.

Or two, be a minor to decent success that allows Orlando to reach the playoffs once again only to be disappointed early.

Whichever it is, I truly believe the Magic need to make something happen this offseason.

Even if it doesn't show immediate results and attracts their superstar center to stay in town, at least they're trying.

2. Chicago Bulls

Just like the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Chicago Bulls are one player away from surpassing their in-conference superiors.

This time it's the Miami Heat.

The Heat are obviously going to be championship contenders for the next five years, so the Bulls and Derrick Rose need to make a major move to try and disrupt that notion.

Trading for Andre Iguodala could put them in that category of near perfect teams. 

He's an instant upgrade over Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer, as well as offering yet another driving mentality other than Rose.

In order to acquire Iggy, Chicago would more than likely have to give up center Joakim Noah.

Noah is a solid NBA big man, but forward Taj Gibson showed this year that he can supply the Bulls with solid minutes in the paint even if he doesn't start alongside Carlos Boozer.

Plus, the Bulls could easily sign a veteran center to just sit there and clog up the paint for a charging Lebron James and Dwayne Wade.

If the Bulls land the Philadelphia 76er, wouldn't they be a more well-rounded team than Miami?

1. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are the team with the biggest need for Andre Iguodala.

Kobe Bryant needs a running mate.

While other people will stick by Bryant and still promote him as the best player in the NBA, the fact remains that he's aging and his team just got swept in the second round of the 2011 playoffs.

With a new head coach in Mike Brown, a depleted point guard core with Derek Fisher and Steve Blake, and one of the worst years of Ron Artest's career (I'm sorry, Metta World Peace), the Lakers are in the market for a youthful offensive dynamo.

Iguodala could be that guy, but so could Monta Ellis.

Whoever the Lakers try to trade for by packaging either Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, or Andrew Bynum, it seems like the perfect fit for a Kobe led franchise.