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OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Golden State Warriors are a team that the most sought-after free agents have avoided for most of the last two decades, nothing more than loveable losers with a faithful following and an ambiguous name on the NBA map. Maybe no more. Owner Joe Lacob, general manager Bob Myers, assistant GM Kirk Lacob and coach Mark Jackson already had started the process of turning around the futile franchise with last seasons playoff run. The foursome saw the latest evolution when they met with free agent Andre Iguodala and his agent, Rob Pelinka, in his Los Angeles office on July 1 -- the first day of free agency. "Before we could say too much, he was telling us how much he admired our team, he admired our coach and our players," Myers said. "We said, Do we have to sell you on anything?" He said, Look, I feel like this is the place I want to play. That moment was a transformative moment for our franchise." That new perception is finally reality. The Warriors introduced Iguodala at the teams downtown Oakland headquarters Thursday, nearly a week after he agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal despite more lucrative offers. Golden State believes Iguodalas arrival puts the franchise on new footing, going from a stopping point for middling free agents to a desirable destination among the NBAs most prized players. Iguodala said he wanted to come to the Bay Area because he can connect with the franchises vision. He got a glimpse of that last season when the Warriors knocked out his Denver team in the first round of the playoffs. The experience left Iguodala wanting to play with "smart big men" such as Andrew Bogut and David Lee, promising rookie Harrison Barnes and sharpshooters Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, whom he jokingly said is "like the second coming of Jesus Christ. Hes like the most loved man on earth right now." "I think they were missing one piece," Iguodala said. "And hopefully I can be that piece to get that team to where we all want to be, which is to try and win a championship." Just the process of bringing Iguodala to Golden State showed the commitment from both sides. The Warriors entered free agency with little wiggle room. Keeping their own free agents -- Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry, who inked deals with Cleveland and Sacramento, respectively -- seemed improbable. Signing top-tier talent? Almost laughable. Pelinka, who worked alongside Myers for years as an agent, approached the Warriors about Iguodala. At first, Myers never thought the Warriors could make a deal happen. "He was looking at a team that was financially strapped with arguably no way to get him and saying, Id like to come play for you," Myers said. "And that motivated us as an organization." After days of back-and-fourth phone calls, text messages and meetings, doubt started to creep in for both sides. Iguodala also had other offers to consider, and some started to evaporate. The Sacramento Kings pulled a four-year, $52 million deal off the table. Denver made him a frontloaded five-year, $60 million offer, and the Dallas Mavericks also got into the mix. Some of the delay was, in part, because a few teams were waiting on the most coveted free agent -- Dwight Howard -- to make a decision. Even Iguodala felt the frustration. "I actually texted Dwight, Yo, youre messing me up," he said. Myers, who said the team always wanted Iguodala and not Howard, spent more than 16 hours working the phones on July 4 only to come up empty on a trade partner needed to clear salary cap space. Finally on the morning of July 5, Myers found a solution about an hour before Iguodala had to make a decision to go elsewhere for fear of losing another guaranteed offer. Myers struck a deal to clear $24 million in salaries by sending Richard Jefferson, Andris Biedrins and Brandon Rush to the Utah Jazz along with four draft picks, which eventually became part of a three-team, sign-and-trade deal with Denver. "This was a lesson in perseverance," said Myers, sporting a new beard because he had no time to shave. How Iguodalas addition impacts the Warriors wont be known until real games are played. Iguodala, who helped the U.S. capture the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, spent his first eight years in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers before spending last season with Denver. He has averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in his career and is almost certain to start at small forward. All five starters -- Curry, Thompson, Barnes, Lee and Bogut -- will be back, meaning Barnes or Thompson will likely be coming off the bench. Myers referred to the roster as having "six starters" and said hes eager to see how Jackson blends them all together. For his part, Iguodala said playing time will not be a problem. He already calls many of the Warriors friends and said the teams strong chemistry is what made it so attractive. "I think we have high-IQ basketball players who all can have a huge impact on any team in the league," Iguodala said. "Any five of those guys can be the man on the team or any team in the league."Rashan Gary Womens Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Rashan Gary Youth Jersey . Those lessons were more than enough to overwhelm the Utah Jazz. Lou Williams scored 25 points and the Hawks continued their offensive upswing as they rolled to an easy 118-85 victory over the Jazz on Friday night, winning their third straight and for the fourth time in five games. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Paul-Hornung-Packers-Jersey/ . The 18th player to shoot 60 on the tour, Jamieson settled for par on the final hole when his 15-foot birdie chip grazed the edge of the hole and stayed out. After opening with rounds of 66 and 73 to make the cut by a stroke, he had 11 birdies in the bogey-free round. Ray Nitschke Youth Jersey .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Jace Sternberger Youth Jersey .C. - The Carolina Hurricanes have placed backup goalie Anton Khudobin on injured reserve with an unspecified lower-body injury.Ryan Giggs ended his 29-year association with Manchester United on Saturday, leaving the English Premier League club at the start of Jose Mourinhos reign in a bid to become a manager himself.Its time for a new chapter and a new challenge, the 42-year-old former winger said.Giggs was an exception in soccer by spending his entire playing career at one club. After joining in 1987, Giggs went on to appear a record 963 times for the first team, mostly under Alex Ferguson. In tandem, Giggs became British soccers most decorated player and Ferguson the most successful manager.It is a huge decision for me to step away from the club that has been my life since the age of 14, Giggs said in a statement. It has not been a decision that I have made lightly. Ill take away so many special memories as well as a lifetime of experiences that will, I hope, serve me well in the future.However, the time feels right and, although I have no immediate plans to step into management, it is where I want to be.After 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs, Giggs brought an end to his playing career in 2014 to become Louis van Gaals assistant manager. It followed a four-game stint as interim manager after Fergusons short-lived successor, David Moyes, was fired.Although Giggs wasnt a serious contender to retain the job on a full-time basis, it appeared he was being groomed by United as a future manager.But he endured two turbulent years in the dugout alongside Van Gaal as the teams fortunes briefly improved before slumping again.When Van Gaal was dismissed after two seasons in May -- despite winning the FA Cup -- United turned to Mourinho rather than Giggs to lead the clubs recovery.dddddddddddd.Ive been extremely fortunate in having two great managerial mentors; first in Sir Alex, who Ive spent the majority of my life working with and learning from, and who I believe will remain as footballs greatest ever manager, and in more recent times, Louis van Gaal, whose CV speaks for itself, Giggs said. The knowledge I have gleaned from them has been invaluable.Giggs wont get a chance to experience working alongside Mourinho, who is yet to announce his coaching staff.There are only a handful of proven winners at the very highest level and Jose is unquestionably one of them, Giggs said of the two-time Champions League winner. I know the fans will welcome him.United said Giggs will always be welcome back at Old Trafford where fans display a banner reading Giggs -- Tearing You Apart Since 1991.Now it is Giggs tearing himself apart from United where he also won four FA Cups, three League Cups, one UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, and a Club World Cup.United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward recalled on Saturday how Giggs delighted crowds with his dazzling wing play and later with his intelligence and ability to dictate a game.He has tackled his coaching and management responsibilities with similar rigor and diligence, Woodward added. The experiences and discipline he developed at United will undoubtedly be a big help as he continues to learn his trade. He has all the attributes to be a terrific manager in the future. ' ' '