On Friday, Andre Iguodala agreed to a 4 year, 48 million dollar contract to play for the Golden State Warriors. The 29 year old shooting guard will join a talented young team that should compete for championships in the Western Conference. Golden State traded away Richard Jefferson, Andres Biedrins, and Brandon Rush to the Utah Jazz in order to clear the cap space for the move, which leaves Iguodala, Klay Thompson, and former UNC SF Harrison Barnes to eat the minutes on the wing. Some thoughts on how Iguodala coming to Golden State impacts Harrison’s development and playing time.

After trading away Richard Jefferson and Brandon Rush, the Warriors really only have three proven wing players, but they are all really good. Klay Thompson is a very talented shooter who is only 23. He averaged 16 points playing alongside former Davidson star Stephen Curry. Barnes was a versatile player for the Warriors in his rookie season. He showed flashes of greatness in the playoffs, when he averaged 16.1 per game off of post ups, aggressive drives, and threes. Iguodala has always been known as a team first player who can do it all. Iggy can create his own shot, knock down an open jump shot, and he rebounds and defends above average for his position. He really is a glue guy and will gel well in Golden State.

Barnes shouldn’t have to worry about losing too many minutes with the addition of Iguodala. Most likely, either Klay Thompson or Barnes will come off the bench for the Dubs. Barnes, Thompson and Iguodala all compliment each other and do different things, with Thompson as the shooter, Iggy as the veteran with experience and all around player, and Barnes still as a post up threat and jump shooter. Iguodala can shoot the three, he made over 48% of them in last season’s playoffs, but mostly just knocks down open looks. If Barnes does start with Iguodala, he would need to use the jump shooting more for spacing. But any combination of Iguodala, Steph Curry, and Barnes/Thompson would be a potent starting lineup.

Another option the Warriors could go is a small ball lineup with Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Barnes at PF and Andrew Bogut or David Lee in the middle. This lineup would work, because Barnes and Iguodala are big enough to handle the interior defensive pressures that would come up. This lineup would score a lot of points from downtown, with the shooters, Curry and Thompson, having plenty of space to operate. Barnes would post up on small wing defenders, while Curry would work off a high pick and roll with a big man to find Thompson, or Iggy would create off the dribble for himself or the shooters. Lots of possibilities here.

Overall, Andre Iguodala moving from Denver to Golden State does nothing but good for the Warriors. The Warriors will become championship contenders even after missing on Dwight Howard with the addition of the versatile winger Andre Iguodala, and Barnes will only benefit from playing with the talented veteran. It was a great move by Golden State, and it could lead them to a Finals berth next June.