Iguodala wants to grow with young Heat core

Miami Heat wing Andre Iguodala received a two-year, $30-million contract extension as part of his acquisition from the Memphis Grizzlies in February, preventing the 2015 Finals MVP from hitting free agency at season's end.

Iguodala insists the new deal, which includes a $15-million club option for 2021-22, was something both parties wanted before the trade was completed.

"Both sides knew the window we have - my window and the team's window," Iguodala told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "We all know about when teams want cap space. It's hard to get acclimated with a group of guys in two months. The locker room is a special place. I wanted to be somewhere where I could grow with the guys, a lot of the young talent that I have a good impression of, help them grow, especially Bam (Adebayo), Kendrick Nunn, Tyler (Herro) and Duncan (Robinson)."

The former lottery pick had a solid 2018-19 postseason, highlighted by a 22-point performance in Game 6 of The Finals.

After sitting out most of the current campaign, Iguodala suited up in 14 games for Miami and felt he was just getting settled when the coronavirus pandemic put the NBA on hiatus.

"I still have a lot of room to grow. I found in June this past year, in the Finals, I really had a great rhythm offensively, felt really good, breaking guys down, being able to break guys down off the dribble, whereas (before the league shutdown) it's almost like you're still early in the season," Iguodala said. "Defense is like riding a bike for me."