Nuggets get All-Star Andre Iguodala in Dwight Howard trade

Posted on: 8:49 am, August 10, 2012, by Will C. Holden

Andre Iguodala

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets made out with an All-Star in the blockbuster trade of the NBA summer that sent Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to multiple sources.

That All-Star is Andre Iguodala, formerly of the Philadelphia 76ers and currently of the USA Olympic team. The Nuggets shipped shooting Arron Afflalo and forward Al Harrington to Orlando to acquire the 28-year-old Iguodala, who can play both guard and forward.

Last season, the 6-foot-6 tweener averaged 12.4 points per game, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Over the course of his eight-year career, Iguodala, a former ninth-overall draft pick, has averaged 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists.

Iguodala is also a noted defender, having averaged 1.8 steals per game over the course of his career.

The Nuggets gave up two big pieces of a team that led the NBA in scoring a year ago to get Iguodala, though.

Serving as the team’s starting shooting guard and primary defensive stopper a year ago, Afflalo averaged 15.2 points with 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Harrington typically came off the bench and averaged 14.2 points and 6.1 rebounds.

This isn’t the first A.I. the Nuggets have acquired from Philly. During the 2006 season, Denver traded Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round draft picks for sure-fire Hall of Famer Allen Iverson.

As if all of those Philadelphia ties weren’t enough, sure enough, the Nuggets open the 2012-2013 season with the 76ers.