NBA Trade Rumors: 12 Reasons Why the 76ers Should Keep Andre Iguodala

Before and after the 2011 NBA Draft, and now in the midst of a potentially long lasting NBA lockout, the Philadelphia 76ers have been extensively rumored to being more than willing to trade borderline superstar Andre Iguodala.

There have been numerous rumors revolving around Iguodala and the chance he lands with another NBA team by the start of next season.

According to Yahoo Sports and Sam Amick of SI.com, the Los Angeles Lakers have already discussed acquiring the elite defender in exchange for Lamar Odom.

In addition to possible teaming up with Kobe Bryant in L.A., Iguodala has been mentioned in a straight-up swap with the Golden State Warriors' Monta Ellis, according to ESPN's Ric Bucher.

Another recent trade rumor that ESPN has broke, is another player-swap involving the Los Angeles Clippers' center Chris Kaman.

Regardless of which rumor could potentially become reality, the 76ers need to think hard as to whether or not they're truly ready to deal Iggy.

He's become one of the best lock-down defenders in the NBA and continues to use his explosive athleticism to improve his offense.

With that said, taking into account that next season may not even take place, here are the top twelve reasons why the Sixers should think twice before dealing Iguodala.

12. Aging Chris Kaman

Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman is a talented player.

He's a 7'0" big man who can block shots and average nearly a double-double on a nightly basis.

With that said, alongside the recent trade rumors of swapping the 29-year-old for a younger and more athletic Andre Igoudala, the Philadelphia 76ers should gauge this situation with the up-most caution.

Kaman has missed a grand total of 107 games over the last three seasons compared to Iguodala's 15, which were all missed last year.

The Clippers' center is entering his ninth season in the NBA, and as most experts and former players will tell you, it gets very hard for an aging seven-footer to actually get better as his career goes on.

Does Yao Ming ring a bell?

In no way I'm I discrediting Kaman's ability and potential success in a 76ers jersey, but considering Philadelphia already has Spencer Hawes and a freshly drafted Nikola Vucevic, they've already got an up and coming frontcourt.

11. Rookie Nikola Vucevic

As I just mentioned before, the Philadelphia 76ers recently drafted Nikola Vucevic out of USC with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Vucevic is an outstanding talent at 6'10", 240 lbs, offering a soft touch around the basket, a high basketball IQ, and serves as a solid mid-range scoring threat.

While Vucevic is still raw in the eyes of the NBA at 20-years-old, trading for players like Chris Kaman or Lamar Odom is only going to slow down the young rookie's chances of growing through on-court experience.

He's projected to help down low with rebounding and put back scoring, so the more he's on the court, the better.

Vucevic should be a significant reason why the 76ers could hold off on trading Andre Iguodala for a big man, if they trade him at all.

His youth and projected NBA potential is too good to pass up and have ride the bench for the next three years.

10. The Loyal Fans

Since the departure of Philadelphia 76er legend Allen Iverson, the Sixers fans have adopted Andre Iguodala as their go-to guy.

Iggy has easily been one of the most recognizable players on Philadelphia throughout the NBA.

He's played in 22 career playoff games since 2004, has played every game during the season in five out of seven years, and has been one of the main attractions come game time with his high flying acrobatics and explosive offensive abilities.

Do the fans want a new face in Philly?

It's possible, but as it stands right now, Iguodala holds the key to the city.

Despite having little to no help over the years, it's difficult to argue that Iggy hasn't done what's been asked of him.

Losing him could cost the team some familiar faces in the seats.

9. Iguodala's Superstar Potential

Over the past two seasons, Andre Iguodala as seen a decrease in productivity.

His scoring average has plummeted to nearly 14 PPG from his 2008-09 average of 18.8.

While the 27-year-old still acts as one of the best defenders in the league, a lot of people look at offense as the main contributor of a player with his talent, and rightfully so.

In a sometimes stagnant offense, Iguodala is consistently counted on to produce not only by locking down All-Star guards and forwards, but scoring on the other end.

Beyond all of that, it's easy to recognize that this guy has some serious scoring ability.

He's one of the best in-game dunk artists on the planet, has gradually improved his outside shooting, and is one of the hardest workers you can find.

So why the lack of success over the years?

While it could be his surrounding cast or the five head coaches he's had since coming into the NBA, it more or less comes down to the fact that he just hasn't put it all together.

That leads into the notion that he does in fact possess an untapped potential at the prime age of 27.

It just seems that the players the 76ers and Iguodala have been linked to as far as possible trade partners, just don't have the same level of future excellence as Iggy.

8. Evan Turner's Future

A big reason to keep Andre Iguodala in a 76er jersey is to see what he can do when sophomore Evan Turner finally comes around.

Turner, 22, was drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in last year's NBA Draft.

After coming into the league on a 20.4 PPG and 9.2 RPG stint at Ohio State, Turner hasn't done much during his first year with Philadelphia, averaging 7.2 PPG and 3.9 RPG throughout 23 MPG.

I realize it was his first year and all, but you'd expect just a little more production out of a high draft pick that was a top-notch scorer in college.

Turner's future potential is a reason why the 76ers may opt to let go of Iguodala and lose his offensive production, but it also stands as a significant reason to keep their star player around.

If there was a way to get around Thaddeus Young, counting on the fact that Turner will eventually regain his college scoring abilities at the NBA level, seeing the young guard form a durable tag-team with Iggy would only help spark more playoff appearances for Doug Collins and Philadelphia.

7. Philadelphia's Existing Frontcourt

What about Elton Brand and Spencer Hawes?

These guys are no slouches, but that hasn't stopped the Philadelphia 76ers from being rumored in trading for Lamar Odom or Chris Kaman.

Both of whom play the four and five spots for their respective teams, with Odom sometimes moving to small forward.

Regardless of whether or not Odom is better than Brand and Kaman is better than Hawes, is it worth bringing in one or the other for Andre Iguodala?

I highly doubt it.

If the Sixers are actually thinking about bringing in an aging big man to help lock down the box with Brand, it could cost them some real athleticism in the backcourt.

6. Playoff Rebirth

After coming into the season following a year in which they failed to reach the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in familiar territory in 2010-11, losing in the first round.

While it's quite understandable in how the 76ers and Andre Iguodala would lose to Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and the Miami Heat, it still marks one of their most successful seasons in recent history.

They finished with 41 wins, tied for most since the 2004-05 season, actually took a game from the Heat in the first round, and did all of this in a year where the Eastern Conference underwent a massive makeover of top level superstars.

By trading Iguodala now, in the midst of a possible resurgence in the East, Philadelphia could be playing with fire.

Why trade away your superstar who's become comfortable in your lineup for a questionable acquisition who's coming in fresh?

Why breakup an Iguodala-Doug Collins connection that proved to be very successful in their first season together?

If you ask me, parting ways with Iggy for an equal or even less of a talent at this point in the franchise, seems like the team is trying to do too much.

Let things play out, Philadelphia.

5. Lamar Odom

Once again another rumored acquisition for Philadelphia doesn't make much sense.

Are you telling me that the 76ers would actually benefit in swapping Andre Iguodala for Lamar Odom?

If so, I guess I'm completely out of the loop as far as good players are concerned.

Don't get me wrong, Odom has been a major piece in the Los Angeles Lakers championship success, but in no way does he muscle up to Iguodala's athleticism and NBA promise going forward.

Odom is four years older, plays at a position that the 76ers already have locked up, and is seemingly declining on a yearly basis.

I highly doubt this is the trade for Philadelphia.  It just doesn't add up.

Odom would serve as a solid scorer and rebounding big man on any NBA team, but it's not worth trading away a player who could end up being a perennial All-Star for the next five or so years.

As far as I'm concerned, Odom should never touch ground in Philly.

4. Trade Market Value

This is fairly self explanatory.

Over the past few months the Philadelphia 76ers haven been linked to trading for either Lamar Odom, Monta Ellis, Chris Kaman, and possibly others NBA players.

All of these guys are sufficient contributors to their teams, Ellis being the biggest scoring talent, but in no means are these the names that could sweep Andre Iguodala away from Philly.

Iguodala arguably possess more talent than either of these players and he's just scratching the surface of his NBA potential.

He's not going to turn into Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant anytime soon, but Iggy has a certain x-factor.

He's more athletic, a better inside scoring than almost any guard or forward the 76ers could acquire via trade, and comes in at only 27 years old.

Odom and Kaman should be no-brainers in saying no thank you, while an Ellis swap is the only possible scenario where Philadelphia would receive ample talent in return.

But what you're getting with that trade is just as it's advertised, a swap.

In no way would either team truly benefit from switching their top scorers, unless of course the 76ers believe Ellis could turn into a 28 PPG threat.

The Sixers should look to be wowed before they deal Iggy.

3. Monta Ellis

This slide goes hand in hand with the last one.

If the Philadelphia 76ers truly believe that swapping Andre Iguodala for Golden State's Monta Ellis would benefit their championship chances over the next five years, by all means pull the trigger.

But, management should be absolutely convinced that Ellis has room for improvement, even considering he's average at least 24 PPG over the past two seasons.

Iguodala's all-around game is just as good if not better than Monta's.

He's got better defense, a more physical NBA body, and is still a very sufficient scorer on any part of the hardwood.

Also considering the 76ers already have solid guards in Lou Williams, Evan Turner and Iguodala when he plays the two, trading for Ellis would in no way be an upgrade.

2. Head Coach Doug Collins

Can Doug Collins get a chance to win?

I realize that the Philadelphia 76ers have grown accustom to replacing their head coaches on a yearly basis, employing five guys including Collins since Andre Iguodala was a rookie in 2004, but where does it end?

Collins was very good in his first season as the 76ers play caller, winning 41 games and making it to the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Despite losing to the Miami Heat 4-1, Collins and his players seemingly took a lot away from last year's successes and failures.

So with all this promise of a new head coach who actually knows what's going on, why would the team take away his best offensive asset?

Iguodala and Collins clearly work well together, so giving them more time to mesh and get things in order could only help the Sixers going forward.

It's hard for me to believe that a second-year head coach is going to want his main chess piece replaced.

That'll be like selecting two quarterbacks in the NFL Draft in back-to-back years, it just doesn't make sense.

Let the man do his thing.

.

1. Questionable NBA Lockout

For me, and obviously potential trades, the biggest reason why the Philadelphia 76ers should think twice about trading Andre Iguodala is the potentially long lasting NBA lockout.

Here me out.

If the Sixers ultimately decided to part ways with Iguodala before the season and without a lockout, everything could be worked out.

But when you're talking about possibly trading your team superstar for another team superstar within a time line that features a possible season start after the new year, it just doesn't seem like the proper time to shake things up.

Not only would a trade late into 2011 not allow the 76ers new acquisition to get comfortable with Philadelphia's coaches and players, but game scheming and overall team chemistry would be at an all-time low.

Believe it or not, Iguodala's future with the Sixers could be decided by the hastily outcome of the NBA lockout.

If you'd like to see Iggy stay in Philly, hope that any new CBA discussions last into 2012.