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Would the Jazz want Kirilenko?

Would putting AK into the mix, as currently constituted, make us better?

I submit that it would not. I envision him contributing pretty much like Miles, only much more old and broken.

Beating up on lower tier players in Europe is a far cry from trying to keep up with younger, stronger, faster NBA players.

I liked AK, when he was here (contract aside), but he never, ever, ever showed us anything that looked like leadership.
 
You guys are throwing the baby out with the bath water.

AK is not a leader. He is not a stellar 3-point shooter. And yes, he will likely miss short stretches of the season with nagging injures.

These things notwithstanding, us bringing him back is not an indication that we're looking for him to be any of those things. There are a lot of things that he can do, especially when he's utilized in the right way (IMO, a backup 4 with spot minutes at the 3).

He’s still a weapon defensively with his length and quickness, especially if he’s used at the 4 and plays around the basket. He can get you 8-12 points per game pretty seamlessly within the offense by way of putbacks, coming off of curl screens, and at the foul line, and doesn’t need to dominate the ball to do so. He is a capable shooter, if not a great one…good enough to avoid the Ronnie Brewer treatment. And I believe he is definitely an upgrade over CJ, Carroll, and Raja, guys who all got way more burn at the 3 spot this season than they should have.

To say we should never bring him back because he is not a “leader” or doesn’t stroke the 3-ball is asinine - he would never be intended to fill either role on the team. Assuming that Al and Millsap are only together on this roster for another full season at most, we’re going to have backup PF/SF minutes available in the near future. AK wouldn’t be the only option – we could use a stretch 4 who can really shoot the 3 – but his services would fill a need. Even with the emergence of Favors, we could use a boost with our interior D. Kanter is a few years away from being a defensive menace.

Don’t bring him back to lead the squad. Don’t bring him back to be our 3-point answer. Bring him back to play his game – come off the bench for 20-25 minutes a night, be a disruptive presence defensively, and get you 10 points a night. At $3M - $4M per season, he would be a bargain.
 
The quicker we can shake the notion that he's a defender and a ball handler, the quicker we can stop using those as justification for all his other glaring problems.
 
infection said:
The quicker we can shake the notion that he's a defender and a ball handler, the quicker we can stop using those as justification for all his other glaring problems.
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He's not a good defender on the perimeter. He IS around the basket.

He's a guy with really unique skills/abilities. If they're used incorrectly, he's a liability.

Though he is a rather deft interior passer for a 4-man.
 
To say that AK is not a good defender is sheer ignorance. Like Big Mike said, he is a great interior defender. He also is a great help defender, probably one of the best in the NBA during his years with the Jazz. Because of his length he makes many deflections and I think he led the Jazz in that category, unofficially, every year, from what broadcasters reported. He also has been great at making steals during clutch situations. Not a defender? Is this why he was DPOY in the Euroleague?

No, because of his high dribble and exposure of the ball, he's not the best option for bringing the ball up the court, but he is one of the best passing bigs in basketball without a doubt, so if you include passing in the category, ball-handling, I think you have to say he is a good ball-handler.
 
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Funny how most of the posters around here scoff at signing Kirilenko...... while most GM's with a decent team will definitely be looking at him.
Lol
 
I'm not an AK-hater by any means and I do think he could help the team - but big picture I don't think he helps the franchise for these 5 reasons:
1.) 31-years old (he actually has been playing professionally for 16 years) so he's a wing player who relies on athleticism on the downside of his career
2.) He doesn't solve the team's issues with floor-spacing and perimeter shooting
3.) He's a gambler defensively which creates highlight plays but also leaves you vulnerable - and it's hard to develop consistency in a defensive system when one guy constantly free-lances.
4.) Has alot of experience but doesn't bring a strong leadership presence to the huddle or in the lockerroom
5.) Injury-prone and not the type of player who will bring a physical-presence that can rub off on his teammates.

I think the Jazz definitely need to sign/acquire a veteran wing player, but I want someone who can atleast satisfy a couple of the points I've listed above.
 
^^^ I agree. I'd prefer either a veteran (and not psychotic) PG and/or wing.

We need an upgrade at PG, shooters, and leadership ... but other than that, we're good.
 
Give us AK, Nash, Pau, and Korver, and we win the NBA title, though I don't know if this is financially feasible. Call it my Jazz fantasy team:

Nash / Tinsley / Burks
Hayward / Burks / Korver
AK / Millsap / Carroll / Korver
Favors / Millsap / AK
Gasol / Kanter

We need two more players: a backup PG and a 3-point shooter
 
write4u said:
Give us AK, Nash, Pau, and Korver, and we win the NBA title, though I don't know if this is financially feasible. Call it my Jazz fantasy team:

Nash / Tinsley / Burks
Hayward / Burks / Korver
AK / Millsap / Carroll / Korver
Favors / Millsap / AK
Gasol / Kanter

We need two more players: a backup PG and a 3-point shooter
Click to expand...

I would be super excited to see that team. They could win it all. Break the bank for one year!
 
PKM said:
Has a four-white-starters team ever won a championship? Like, since 1892..
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Probably not since some of those first Celtics teams that were Bill Russell and 9 other white guys...so yeah, probably not since the 1950's.
 
PKM said:
Okay, I'll ask. Has a four-white-starters team ever won a championship? Like, since 1892..
Click to expand...

The closest I can think of is probably the Bulls with Kerr, Kukoc, and Longley. Did those 3 ever start for the Championship teams?
 
write4u said:
Give us AK, Nash, Pau, and Korver, and we win the NBA title, though I don't know if this is financially feasible. Call it my Jazz fantasy team:

Nash / Tinsley / Burks
Hayward / Burks / Korver
AK / Millsap / Carroll / Korver
Favors / Millsap / AK
Gasol / Kanter

We need two more players: a backup PG and a 3-point shooter
Click to expand...

...that is a very weak defensive team, with the exception of Favors who is a rookie! Not to mention where is the outside shooting going to come from? I mean they can launch shots, but making them at a 45% clip would be dreaming.
 
Cyrone Torbin said:
The closest I can think of is probably the Bulls with Kerr, Kukoc, and Longley. Did those 3 ever start for the Championship teams?
Click to expand...
Kerr was a backup, Kukoc was a spot-starter alternating with Rodman in '98 but Ron Harper, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were obviously all starters so that's 3/5 right there.
 
How do you see it as weak defensively -- you have Favors and AK on the interior and Burks, Carroll, and Hayward for perimeter defense. For the two remaining players you could address the need for another perimeter defender (maybe add Earl) and a 3-point shooter. So far as outside shooting, there is Nash, Korver, and I think Burks and Hayward will prove to be reliable shooters (just look at their foul shooting) as their career advances, and we add another shooter. Millsap and Pau are both good from mid-range.

And I didn't rate AK over Millsap, though I think they are pretty close as players -- but we could rotate them between the 3-4 position, maybe give Millsap more minutes because he is more durable. But I would start AK at SF because I think he's a better fit there.
 
I would rather have him than CJ, Howard, and Bell. If we can get him for less than their combined salaries, we are significantly better next year with AK than with these 3.
 
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