Is Iguodala a Priority? Maybe Not - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

While much chatter following Philadelphia's noble defeat at the hands of Detroit has focused on how much cash Andre Iguodala lost himself with a bad series, no one's much paying attention to the 76er front office's view on the matter. Ed Stefankski, Philly's general manager, talked about Iguodala's contract status with the Philadelphia Daily News's Phil Jasner earlier this week.

"I would say, 'Thank God they're restricted,' because we have no intention of not matching any offer from another team," Stefanski said.

Iguodala rejected an in-season extension offer of $57 million from Billy King, Stefanski's predecessor. Whether he can now command anything close to that remains to be seen. In any case, the Sixers will attempt to complete their business in free agency and the trade market before attempting to re-sign Iguodala or [Louis] Williams.

The "we have no intention of not matching any offer from another team" would seem to be a smoking gun, but I'm more interested in "the Sixer will attempt to complete their business in free agency and the trade market before attempting to re-sign Iguodala" part. Stefanksi's going after a big free agent before worrying about 'Dala.

Iguodala, therefore, is not the priority -- Elton Brand or Josh Smith or Antawn Jamison or Shawn Marion might be. Stefanski's protected, as 'Dala is restricted and Philly can spend whatever it takes to keep AI2. But there's a chance things could get in the way, that Stefanski could be chasing a power forward while someone else swoops in and offers Iguodala $60 million. If Stef manages to pry Smith from Atlanta, suppose ... does it even make sense to pay Iguodala (as Thaddeus Young and Andre Miller lick their chops)? When it comes down it, 'Dala is not going to be first in line for the payday here.

It's all smart on Stefanski's end -- this is the way things should be played. But it's got to be a bit of a wake-up call for 'Dala, the supposed franchise player. Philadelphia may very well be rebuilt by the time Andre's number is called.