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The Prodigal Russian: 5 Reasons the Utah Jazz Should Re-Sign Andrei Kirilenko
Posted by: Drew Bingham on June 5th, 2012
The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of the Utah Jazz.It’s been over a year since Andrei Kirilenko has put on a Utah Jazz jersey. The 2010-2011 season was a disappointment for many Utah fans, and as a result they were looking for someone to blame. Despite 10 years with the Jazz, many thought it was time for AK47 to move on. That’s exactly what happened, but now it’s time for a reunion.
The Jazz may have exceeded expectations in 2012, but it was Kirilenko who had the most success. He had an MVP season while leading his team to a Euroleague championship, and now he wants to come back to the NBA. He’s a perfect fit for the Utah Jazz, and there are five reasons why the fans should welcome him back with open arms:
- History: Andrei Kirilenko has proven he can be an elite player. In his first year in the league he made the NBA All-Rookie First Team, and went on to make the All-Star Team two years later. He also has a history with the Jazz and has worked with Coach Corbin. This would help him transition seamlessly back with the team. He would bring a much-needed veteran presence to this young Utah Jazz squad.
- Defensive Ability: Andrei Kirilenko was once considered an elite defender, making the NBA All-Defensive First or Second Team three years in a row. While he hasn’t had much recognition over the past few years, he is always a threat for steals, blocks, and rebounds…and he is capable of becoming his former self.
- Position: With Josh Howard likely on his way out, the Jazz need someone solid at the small forward position. Gordon Hayward will likely start at shooting guard, opening up a spot for Kirilenko.
- Revitalized Career: Kirilenko had an ideal season playing for CSKA Moscow. He increased his numbers in almost every statistical category, achieved MVP honors, and led his team to a Euroleague Championship. Kirilenko is looking like his old self and is capable of carrying that momentum into his next NBA season.
- Desire: During a recent press conference in Istanbul, Kirilenko expressed his desire to return to the NBA, and displayed loyalty to the Utah Jazz: “I have a huge history with the Utah Jazz and they are a priority for me among the 30 teams competing in the NBA…” He WANTS to come back!
Utah needs to make an offer to Kirilenko, nothing huge but enough to bring him back. He’s worth it. He’s a great fit, and Jazz fans should be grateful if they get the opportunity to have him again.
Replies: 27
Views: 762
27 Responses
Nick is going to go ape !@#$% on this about AK , Ive been trolling him with Kirelenko for awhile. But i agree, make an offer and he would be a good back up piece to make our way to that Elite defensive team that we should become.
I just read Nick’s comments about AK, lol. I’ll admit even I was a hater a few years back, but I think the situation has changed. He’s won a championship. He was an MVP. I’m not saying he should be our star by any means, but he fills a need.
lets be fair. AK wasnt the right match for Sloan. We all know AK lost focus at different times and didnt produce at the level he was capable of. but the break down was confidence that other coaches could have sparked.
Bahahahahahaha hello Drew!!
I would take AK back but at the right price nothing over 3-4 mil
6. The dragon tatoo. Just for the sake of curiosity.
7. The possibility to bring Alexei Shved with him
8. The upgrade, as a team player, on Josh Howard, and the security that if AK comes back, Howard won’t be resigned.
AK has performed well in Europe because he could play less and rest himself. Big men are injury prone (a matter of bigger body area), especially if they are hustle guys like him. I see AK’s role as a 20-25 MPG player.
I think AK is worth 5 M$/year. Well, I think I am worth it too but my boss doesn’t believe me …lol
9. Get revenge on Baron Davis for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w_1ZEk4mds haha..
Look, Andrei is going to be injured. He also doesn’t seem to play with that passion to Win Win Win.
What AK47 brings is not worth $18M a year, which is what he made his last year with the Jazz. But $3M a year? Yeah, totally. Maybe even $5M.
There are really only 2 guys that would excite me more to fill our need at SF…Gilchrist or Igoudala. Cons- Gilchrist is unproven and we would definitely lose one of our best players to get him. Igoudala- pricey
Please move Al in exchange for assets, resign AK to a reasonable contact and pick up Ersan Ilyasove in FA
I 100% agree that Kirilenko should be back in a Jazz uniform. I’d like to see something like a 3-year, 15-16m contract, around 5.25 per year is sensible for the production we could expect.
Simply:
1) Im not like Howard, maybe as a back up
2) With his size, Hayward could be a dominant sg if he learn to shoot consistancy
3) AK likes Utah, and that is huge.
4) His wife likes Utah
5) He is a great defender.
6) MVP season
PLEASE BRING BACK AK!
You guys really think AK is going to sign for $5 million per season or less?
LOL…No chance.
He’s only got a few seasons left, and is extremely injury prone anyway…no thanks.
Just because he played well in Europe doesn’t mean a damn thing. The NBA has far superior talent. I’d rather give the minutes to younger players, or go with the bigger lineup.
“I’d rather give the minutes to younger players”…..really? Who might I ask? Does Corbin have a plan to play hayward 48 minutes a game that only you know about? Ah, you must mean J. Evans..wait, he sucks. Oh,you must mean Caroll, if you can even call him a “younger player,” which he isn’t, how many minutes do you want to give him? Miles? He’s gone. Bell, gone. Howard, gone. And they’re all considered vetrans. Burks, he kind of needs to fill another position called shooting guard. Who is left that can play that position? NOBODY.
Sorry, the “big line-up” is not going to happen. Why? Because I’d rather win than just give minutes to younger players and/or the big lineup. The big linup is not a viable lineup that will take up extended mintues during the game. If you don’t believe me, use your google internet machine and read what jazz brass (indluding corbin) have commented on it. Millsap is a limited sf at best. As good of defense the big line-up plays with (we only have a 10 minute per game test sample to go with) there are just as many if not more weaknesses with that lineup as well.
The fact of the matter is, AK would be a great addition, AT THE RIGHT PRICE. I completely agree with you there. I would pay AK 6 million a year all day. His defensive presence is unmatched at his position, we’d truly be an elite defensive team, which wins games with the like of him and favors in the line-up, and he knows the system, which would help the “win now” thing I was talking about. I would bring him off the bench and watch him do untold damage to other team’s secondary. He is injury prone, yes. But is AK at 6 mil for 60 games a year worth it? Absolutely.
He literally is one of, if not the best sf free agent out there, which is why I’m scared he’ll get payed a lot more than around 6 mil. If we miss out, so be it, but to say he’d be worse than “giving minutes to the younger guys” younger guys who don’t exist, or go with the “big lineup” doesn’t make any sense.
In my perfect world, we would have all our talent (and payroll) concentrated in 8 players:
3 Bigs (1 off the bench)
3 Wings (1 off the bench)
2 PGs (1 off the bench)
You would need at least one versatile wing guy that could guard both twos and threes, and a versatile big would be nice.
Then some lower-pay guys (energy guys, 2nd round picks, old vets, D-league callups or ’specialist’ types) to fill out the roster.
So, to me, AK could be that 3rd wing. I’d much prefer AK over Carrol, Howard, Raja, or CJ. Could we get a better SF than AK through trade, free agency, or draft? Maybe. For instance, I’d rather have Batum, Iguodala or Granger, but they’ll probably ALL be overpaid. So then there’s the draft. There’s some good wings in the draft. MKG, Barnes, Lamb, Beal. They would all probably be better in the long run than signing AK.
As for PG, we have a ton of them, but none that seem to quite be the right fit with our core guys (though I do like Harris and he played lights out in March and April). My perfect scenario for this would be Nash (or D-Will coming back — but that’s not happening), with a backup of Damien Lillard. I’d also accept Lowry.
When Kanter and Favors rookie contracts are up for renewal (read: big raises), one of our bigs will be the odd-man out. With Al and Paul in the last year of their contracts, the move to fix that while getting assets in return will probably happen before next February’s trade deadline. To me, Al was exposed by the Spurs in defending the pick and roll. His ISO offensive play doesn’t really jive with a young team that can run. He’s the odd man out in my book, but the more attractive piece to other teams is probably Millsap.
So can we turn Al or Paul into early draft picks or trade them for a wing or pg from my list above? Is anyone looking to dump a good player and reduce salary that we could trade our Okur exception to? Lots of work for KOC this off-season. I’m hoping he can make a splash and make some great moves.
@JMC “Just because he played well in Europe doesn’t mean a damn thing. The NBA has far superior talent”
Wow … So if you are a good player in Europe, you may not translate in the NBA. Right ?
But AK was a very good player in the NBA AND in Europe … so where is the logics ?
How many good native american college players never translated in the NBA ? hundreds. Where is the logics ?
Have a look at Ricky Rubio’s last year stats at Barcelona … way under his actuel Wolves’stats. He is now a way better NBA player than he was the year before in Europe. Where is the logics ?
There has been fantastic european players, true game changers (like Dejean Bodiroga) that never wanted to play overseas (my overseas): Europe is a fun place to live. So where is the logics ?
The only logics to me is that AK had a better season this year with less injury because he played less and could rest more. It’s not a problem of talent. It’s a problem of playing time and the business of playing so many NBA games in so little time. Make an NBA season with 66 games in an 8 months span and you will see: talent … and besket-ball.
basket-ball (damn typos)
I wouldn’t mind seeing Andrei back, but only if nothing better comes along. Corbin has this horrible knack of putting in the geezers with half the talent of the young guys who sit on the bench. I’d rather have Burks start the first half of the season at SG and see how he manages, and move Hayward to SF. If that doesn’t play out, toss out the big lineup again. (Pending a trade for Big Al or Millsap-or both.)
Andrei is a liability because he’s so “injury prone”. (I’d say he’s closer to being lazy than injury prone, rather Boozer-esque.) The euroleague is putting a rose tint to our vision of him. European players are talented, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re stereotypically less talented than NBA players, so Andrei’s competition isn’t quite as stiff. I wouldn’t pay any more than $4 million a year for him; It’s what he’s worth.
… Where do you rank AK ? As an NBA player or as a european player ? Are american players playing in europe still NBA players ? Just does not make sense …
The Jazz have about $33m in expiring contracts next year, Big Al, Paul and Devin. They can be big, BIG players in the FA market.
Do they want to foul that up with anything longer than 1 year guaranteed, team option on the next.
Do they want to tie up the amount of money the Broklyn Nets will offer?
Would AK accept a 1+1 $3-5m?
Jazzaholic
I don’t think AK to the Nets is a done deal though. Just because they’re Russian doesn’t mean they’ll team up. Wouldn’t that have AK and Gerald Wallace fighting for the same position?
Ya and Gerald Green as well. Gerald would be the odd man out and would not mind getting him either.
*FACEPALM*
I sometimes wish there was some sort of minimum acceptable Basketball IQ prerequisite test in order to post on this site.
Maybe not even that extreme. Maybe would-be posters could just try looking at some of the many posts available here to see if the exact same post they want to write is already here, with a ridiculous long dialogue they could read.
In fact, if you go back just a couple of pages (hint: click the blue link on the bottom right of the homepage that says: “see more blog posts”) you will find recent posts with active discussion that can contribute to! CRAZY, RIGHT?!
Sorry, Drew. I’m not attacking you directly, here. In fact this is probably unfair. It’s just that the same old AK47 retrograde argument infuriates me. It’s been something thats just been coming up again and again this entire season.
It’s just a terible, terrible idea. And and I’m so weary sof people trying to justify taking a step backward as a team, to resign a guy whose only value is nostalgia.
Andrei Kirilenko is Gone. Get over it.
Again, sorry Drew. Nothing personal. It just KEEPS being brought up…It haunts me every time I come onto this forum. There! In the shadows….lurking….crawling…following me…taunting me….waiting. Just when I decide it’s safe to turn arou–BAM!!!! HISSSSSSS!!! It rockets out of the darkness and gauges out a piece of my flesh. I strike out blindly, hoping to make contact, to wound it, slow it down so I can catch it…and kill it, to make the madness stop…
But it is too elusive. As quickly as it appeared, it vanishes–scatters like frozen hail in an arctic wind; hides like light during winter on the Motherland…
….Biding its time, licking its wounds…
Waiting…..
No worries. I understand your point of view Nick, but the “minimum acceptable Basketball IQ” comment was pretty dumb. Just because you disagree with me doesn’t mean I’m an idiot.
I’ll be straight up and say that I didn’t read any of the posts before hand. I’ve been an NBA fan for a long time, but this was my first blog post. I wrote it for something else and then remembered this site existed. It was only after I posted that I started to go look at the other discussions. So while I appreciate the cynicism, cool your jets. I’m hoping to stick around here for awhile, so maybe I’ll be more ‘educated’ for you the next time I post.
The problem with AK wasn’t his play. It wasn’t even necessarily his missing a quarter to a third of games due to injury.
It was that his PAY was on par with Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Paul Pierce, Pau Gasol, and other superstars of the league, while his PLAY was not. It created all sorts of financial havoc on the team, which IMO, was a huge part of Deron Williams’ disgruntledness and a part of Sloan resigning. We traded away Brewer for nothing. Gave away Maynor for nothing. Couldn’t match Matthews toxic Portland offer. Made us not even pursue re-signing Korver. All this was caused by AK’s gigantic contract. He was the highest paid player, but was arguably only our 3rd or 4th best player. I personally think Deron and Boozer were slightly put off by AK making more than them and that it affected team chemistry.
AK is a top 10-15 SF in this league, though. And the Jazz really need some more good talent at the wings. He’s had a year away, while keeping in shape and keeping competetive in the Euroleague, while acheiving success. If he comes back to the Jazz at a reasonable price (and he SHOULD as recompense for the years of overpaid service), that’s a good move, regardless of whatever happened in the past.
@Drew: LOL yeah I was a little drunk when I responded to your post. It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Your post is actually very well written and very well organized, and you have stats to back up your claims. The IQ test thing was just me ranting. Didn’t mean to jump all over you.
In fact, I look forward to you writing other posts NOT about this subject!
Kind of a mean welcome to the forum here, but it’s good to have you. The more Jazz fans the better!
I agree with you about the salary KC, that’s one of the main reasons I’ve been very dissapointed, let down, and upset by Kirilenko. The thought of this man taking any more money from the Jazz franchise sickens me. But I disagree with you that his injuries aren’t a big deal. They are a HUGE deal.
You said yourself he consistently misses about 1/3rd of the the average season. The older he gets, the worse it’s going to become.
Not if you stick him behind Gordon Hayward in the rotations and give him 20-25 minutes instead of 35-40.