Why didn't we go after...

[Thunder]

Kirlienko? I thought about it this morning at school but couldn't post. In all the hype of Amare/Shaq/RJ/Camby, I think we totally forgot about AK47. He was mentioned more than once as being on our radar and he'd be a perfect fit IMO. Could alternate at SF/PF with LeBron and would just add to our already great defense. J/W why Ferry didn't go after him...

EDIT: Or is he injured? Last I heard I think he might be??

 

[Taki]

I was wondering the same！ W&G was saying how he thought Mike Brown would love him in the system, and seemed to be a fan of his in general.

But maybe Utah didn't want just an expiring for him. I would have loved to at least acquire Kirilenko if no one else was available, and it's certainly millions times better than nothing.

 

[jakester000042]

I agree, but Ferry knows what he is doing.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

I was wondering if there is a potential for him to get bought out.

http://winningtheturnoverbattle.blogspot.com/2007/06/worst-contracts-in-nba.html

Note: The below was written in June, 2007:

5. Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
Contract Remaining: 4 years, $63 million
Analysis: Kirlenko would never be considered a conventional franchise forward, but up until this year his blend of elite defense, great passing skills for a big man, and decent scoring touch made him a very valuable piece of the Jazz. This year however, three things happened that might spell the end of Kirilenko's usefullness in Utah:

1. Deron Williams took over the offense, making Kirilenko's passing skills much less needed
2. Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur were healthy for an entire season for the first time, and they took away a large amount of Kirilenko's minutes and shots.
3. Paul Milsap came out of nowhere and looks primed to become the small forward of the future for the Jazz.

All of these things leave Kirilenko with a very small role in the offense, as well as very few minutes left for him. The Jazz are stuck with him at an average of almost $16 million a year, since no team would take a player with as little scoring ability for that much money. Kirilenko's contract is also going to force the Jazz to make some very tough choices when it comes time to sign Milsap and Williams to extensions.

 

[TheBigLeBronski]

Was Utah looking to trade him? They are about to get healthy and it looks like Houston is going to slide to 8 or 9 in the west. I think that gave phoenix and utah a bit more confidence that they would make the playoff money, thereby end up losing less cash this year.

 

[Thunder]

I was wondering if there is a potential for him to get bought out.

http://winningtheturnoverbattle.blogspot.com/2007/06/worst-contracts-in-nba.html

Note: The below was written in June, 2007:

5. Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
Contract Remaining: 4 years, $63 million
Analysis: Kirlenko would never be considered a conventional franchise forward, but up until this year his blend of elite defense, great passing skills for a big man, and decent scoring touch made him a very valuable piece of the Jazz. This year however, three things happened that might spell the end of Kirilenko's usefullness in Utah:

1. Deron Williams took over the offense, making Kirilenko's passing skills much less needed
2. Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur were healthy for an entire season for the first time, and they took away a large amount of Kirilenko's minutes and shots.
3. Paul Milsap came out of nowhere and looks primed to become the small forward of the future for the Jazz.

All of these things leave Kirilenko with a very small role in the offense, as well as very few minutes left for him. The Jazz are stuck with him at an average of almost $16 million a year, since no team would take a player with as little scoring ability for that much money. Kirilenko's contract is also going to force the Jazz to make some very tough choices when it comes time to sign Milsap and Williams to extensions.

Either they pay some insane luxury tax, or buy him out. He will NOT be traded, esp. not the summer before 2010. Unless we trade for him, but I would not waste Ben's contract on him.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

Either they pay some insane luxury tax, or buy him out. He will NOT be traded, esp. not the summer before 2010. Unless we trade for him, but I would not waste Ben's contract on him.

I meant him getting bought out in the coming weeks. Trading for him is over...at least until summer. I am not too familiar with Utah's situation, but if buying him out before this season ends, it could save them luxury tax money for 2008/2009.

 

[Hydroponic3385]

Why would Kirilenko ever agree to a buy out? Dude is raking it in. :chuckles:

 

[bcort]

I see this thread is just about AK.. but I think we should expand it to players we probably didn't go after but maybe should have.

What about Kaman? All the reports seemed to indicate going after Camby, but I didn't hear much (besides speculation) that we were interested in Kaman. I think he would have been a great replacement for Z.

Most of the players that will probably come up if we do expand this topic all have concerns, i.e. injuries, contracts, etc..

 

[Kongo Time]

I was wondering if there is a potential for him to get bought out.

http://winningtheturnoverbattle.blogspot.com/2007/06/worst-contracts-in-nba.html

Note: The below was written in June, 2007:

5. Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz
Contract Remaining: 4 years, $63 million
Analysis: Kirlenko would never be considered a conventional franchise forward, but up until this year his blend of elite defense, great passing skills for a big man, and decent scoring touch made him a very valuable piece of the Jazz. This year however, three things happened that might spell the end of Kirilenko's usefullness in Utah:

1. Deron Williams took over the offense, making Kirilenko's passing skills much less needed
2. Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur were healthy for an entire season for the first time, and they took away a large amount of Kirilenko's minutes and shots.
3. Paul Milsap came out of nowhere and looks primed to become the small forward of the future for the Jazz.

All of these things leave Kirilenko with a very small role in the offense, as well as very few minutes left for him. The Jazz are stuck with him at an average of almost $16 million a year, since no team would take a player with as little scoring ability for that much money. Kirilenko's contract is also going to force the Jazz to make some very tough choices when it comes time to sign Milsap and Williams to extensions.

Not to poke wholes in your post but did you mean paul milsap looks to become the futer power forward because milsap is not a small forward.

 

[Zog]

I doubt AK47 gets bought out, but he'd be a great fit here if he did get bought out. I'd take him over Joe Smith, I think.

 

[Taki]

I doubt AK47 gets bought out, but he'd be a great fit here if he did get bought out. I'd take him over Joe Smith, I think.

You would have to be crazy to not take Kirilenko over Joe Smith, but Cavs are not going to get Kirilenko anymore so Cavs should definitely acquire Joe Smith.

 

[MYoung23]

Maybe it was because he wasnt available.

 

[twizbuck]

Why would Kirilenko ever agree to a buy out? Dude is raking it in. :chuckles:

I guess if he thought he could get a nice contract with a serious contender. Even when the Jazz looked great in the past few seasons they've fallen short. But it all weighs on how much he values a title.

 

[Giambiwannabe7]

A lot has happened in Utah since 2007. AK and Sloan have supposedly kissed and hugged and now all is well(geez, I hope that wasn't AK's choice for his hot ass wife's once a year cheat on me policy//puke).

The Jazz are going to make a run at it this year. They're still in decent shape after playing a bunch of games without their floor general and best player, Derron Williams. That's a team I'd watch out for in the West. They won't win it all, but they could disappoint some good teams along the way.

If we can't get Smith, I'm not sure there's anybody out there that's worth the minutes. I mean, even Joe Smith is only going to get between 8-15 minutes a game, and he'll adjust quicker than most guys would coming in new. We've definitely got some time to let the idea marinate a bit, so in the mean time I'll be watching the progression of a guy already on the team. Bring it on JJ.