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Andrei Kirilenko reportedly negotiating return to Russia

Heathme

Heathme

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https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsjazznotes/52271517-62/kirilenko-career-nba-russia.html.csp

Forward Andrei Kirilenko is reportedly negotiating a deal to return to professional Russian team Spartak St. Petersburg.

Kirilenko's agent, Marc Fleisher, made no mention about his client signing with Spartak when contacted Wednesday.

Kirilenko, 30, began his pro career in St. Petersburg. He made his debut during 1996-97 as a 15-year-old, and was the youngest athlete to ever play in the Russian League.

While Kirilenko said several times last season that he would consider ending his career in Russia, he also stated a clear preference to remain in the NBA during the next few years. Moreover, Kirilenko's mention that he might retire after the 2011 EuroBasket tournament is at odds with statements he made multiple times last season, when he expressed interest in extending his career several more years.

It's already been a busy offseason for Kirilenko, and attention about his future should only increase during the coming months. He added an impressive new tattoo during May, has already spent significant time overseas since the 2010-11 NBA season ended, and will compete for Russia in EuroBasket 2011.

Kirilenko has played all 10 of his NBA seasons with Jazz, but he'll be an unrestricted free agent once the lockout ends.

Brian T. Smith

Twitter: @tribjazz
bsmith@sltrib.com
facebook/com/tribjazz
 
Well, there you have it. Some stars don't shine half as bright for so long. Others fester and dissolve before a full crowd. Kirilenko had his luck. He had his chances. But the last thing he wanted, the last thing WE wanted... was a full plate of his digestive materials. Good riddance... and good luck.

- Craig
 
I agree. Kirilenko needs to be gone. We probably won't be able to afford him (depending upon the new cba, whenever it happens) and we have young players (like Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors) that should get increased playing time in his stead. I, personally, believe that this will be our depth chart this season (if there is one):

PG: Devin Harris, Earl Watson, Alec Burks
SG: Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, Raja Bell
SF: Paul Millsap, C.J. Miles, Jeremy Evans
PF: Derrick Favors, Jeremy Evans, Mehmet Okur
C: Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter, Mehmet Okur
 
The problem with Andre is that he'll go play in Russia for 4 million or whatever, but an American team would probably have to double that.
 
Seeing Favors, Big Al, and Kanter on OUR roster is making me randy baby.

Of course the gods must pick this year to throw a lock out on us.....
 
AK - I like him on the team, he gives a lot of unique things, while at the same time, it is hard to adapt to his play for the other members of the team.

Anyway, i do agree that if we have young talent it is better for them to get the time than for AK to claim it. AK can go to Russia where he will be appreciated, instead of here where he will take time from younger talent.

However realize that we will be losing something. As of right now who is better than AK at the 3:

Gordon? not yet, that's for sure.
Millsap? not as quick or athletic.
Evans? man, i hope so, i really REALLY hope so, but he has a long way to go.
Burks? a bit small, but possible. we can't know yet.
CJ? ah, no. sorry CJ. at least he has AK's inconsistency. That's something right?

While we would be definitely losing something without the former all star, the list of possible young replacements does show that we have young talent that both need time and would be losing time if he is here, so sorry AK, it was a good run, but the run is done.

(On a positive note, if he goes to Russia, he won't be coming in with another NBA team and torching us.)
 
cctrackstar said:
AK - I like him on the team, he gives a lot of unique things, while at the same time, it is hard to adapt to his play for the other members of the team.

Anyway, i do agree that if we have young talent it is better for them to get the time than for AK to claim it. AK can go to Russia where he will be appreciated, instead of here where he will take time from younger talent.

However realize that we will be losing something. As of right now who is better than AK at the 3:

Gordon? not yet, that's for sure.
Millsap? not as quick or athletic.
Evans? man, i hope so, i really REALLY hope so, but he has a long way to go.
Burks? a bit small, but possible. we can't know yet.
CJ? ah, no. sorry CJ. at least he has AK's inconsistency. That's something right?

While we would be definitely losing something without the former all star, the list of possible young replacements does show that we have young talent that both need time and would be losing time if he is here, so sorry AK, it was a good run, but the run is done.

(On a positive note, if he goes to Russia, he won't be coming in with another NBA team and torching us.)
Click to expand...

When was the last time AK torched anyone? The last time I can remember was when he made an appearance on South Park and it wasn't until the Sword of Destiny was unsheathed that he could be stopped.
 
Does anyone realize we will have no legitimate SF left if AK is gone?
 
sepanol said:
Does anyone realize we will have no legitimate SF left if AK is gone?
Click to expand...

I don't want him gone, but doesn't the fact that he is going to sign with a Russian team that likely can't pay him even close to the NBA squads a good sign that he just wants to be in Russia?
 
AK is. 25% wow 25% disappointing 50% injured. His wow moments were amazing just not enough of them for his salary
 
sepanol said:
if you can find a good one, why not? but who is out on the market? i dont see any free agents or any easily tradable good SF
Click to expand...

I do agree with you there and if we could lock AK up for 3 or 4 years at 6-7 million a year i'd be ok with what he brings to the team.
 
What if we go out and sign a SF just like we go out and re-sign AK?
Click to expand...

-warning boring cba talk coming-

Ok, I don't know any more about what's coming than anybody else does as far as the CBA is concerned, but with the old rules the team could spend over the cap for players that they had under contract for previous seasons. The only way that a team could sign players that weren't on their team is with an exception that was worth around five million dollars. If the Jazz can do that, great, otherwise they are still kinda close to the cap.

Next you have to consider the players that we are currently bringing along. How many max contracts can the Jazz fill with a potential hard cap (yeah right)? Let's see, eventually Favors will get one, Probably Kanter will get one after four years, Al has a fourteen to fifteen mil contract for a couple of years, Hayward is gonna get between six to eight mil, Burks will get likely the same, and who is our point guard gonna be? this doesn't even take into consideration Millsap and Evans. Do we keep them?

My point is that with so many high draft picks, salary is going to be hard to come by, and as I allready pointed out, there are five or so players that we like who can play the 3. Why add another one?
 
sepanol said:
if you can find a good one, why not? but who is out on the market? i dont see any free agents or any easily tradable good SF
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't like AK's reliability issues any more than the biggest AK haters, but no one ever thinks about who we would throw in there to replace him with. Hayward will need to fill the role, let's just hope Starcraft takes a back seat when the spotlight hits him.
 
MattMan said:
Agreed. I don't like AK's reliability issues any more than the biggest AK haters, but no one ever thinks about who we would throw in there to replace him with. Hayward will need to fill the role, let's just hope Starcraft takes a back seat when the spotlight hits him.
Click to expand...

Well I'm pretty sure WoW never took a back seat during AK's stint here, and it doesn't look like things got any better over the offseason either:

Andrei-Kirilenko-Tattoo-Picture-1-Andrei-Kirilenko-Tattoo.png
 
If AK is missing over 20 games now, what will he be like now that he is over 30??? AK's max contract has been the biggest mistake the Jazz have made. Yes, worse than Ostertag's contract.
 
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