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With Kirilenko being dangled by Utah and seemingly looking for some veteren help at the 5 spot in return as well as shedding future salary, the raptors ARE serious players.

Nesterovic combined with either Kapono if they want the 3pt threat and don't mind the salary, or a combination of other bench guys with shorter/expiring contracts such as Joey Graham & Juan Dixon all work under the trade checker.

The real issue is Kirilenko's salary which is the same as Bosh's and would effectively leave us with no cap space to spend in the summer of 2009. However if the carrot is right in front of you, then why wait until free agency in the hope of landing a high end addition? I guess the real issue here is whether you believe that our cap space can get us a player of a higher calibre that will fit our system and current deficiencies.

The real kicker here though is that you potentially have the oppurtunity to aquire a near perfect SF for our team, who at 26 (27 in a week) is yet to hit his prime, without giving up any real assets.

If he can be stolen, steal him.

Or Joe Johnson.

Or Mike Miller.

Or almost anyone not named Artest.

The issue with Kirilenko is what he can actually do for the team. If this was three or four years ago, I would say that there is no question you try to get AK47 for the package you said.

BUT.... AK47 has shown a real lack of motivation, reminiscent of a certain #15 who used to play here. Would losing all financial flexibility (with the chance of picking up another good player with Rasho's expiring next year) be worth taking the chance on AK47.

Utah will not, under any circumstances, trade Kirilenko for a deal centred around Rasho. Kapono is of little use to them, as they have Korver, and none of our deep bench players (Dixon, Graham) are desirable.

Out of curiosity, what gives you the impression that Utah is looking to move him on the cheap for a veteran big? The only article hinting at that idea upon which I have stumbled was written by Sam Smith, who has as much credibility as a street preacher. And the Jazz board seems to feature nothing of the sort.

His contract is too much.

If we were to trade for him, taking on his contract should be enough, we shouldn't have to give up a blue chip prospect to get him.

Raptorian wrote:The issue with Kirilenko is what he can actually do for the team. If this was three or four years ago, I would say that there is no question you try to get AK47 for the package you said.

BUT.... AK47 has shown a real lack of motivation, reminiscent of a certain #15 who used to play here. Would losing all financial flexibility (with the chance of picking up another good player with Rasho's expiring next year) be worth taking the chance on AK47.

I don't see Kirilenko as unmotivated, I think he just needs a change of scenary badly and his best years of his career are certainly ahead of him, not behind.

Simply put, hell yes!

Anyone who voted no is weird.

i can't see Utah ever considering such a deal, or Toronto management even entertain the idea of not accepting it, but stranger things have happened

Schadenfreude wrote:Utah will not, under any circumstances, trade Kirilenko for a deal centred around Rasho. Kapono is of little use to them, as they have Korver, and none of our deep bench players (Dixon, Graham) are desirable.

Out of curiosity, what gives you the impression that Utah is looking to move him on the cheap for a veteran big? The only article hinting at that idea upon which I have stumbled was written by Sam Smith, who has as much credibility as a street preacher. And the Jazz board seems to feature nothing of the sort.

I am making the assumption more out of the repeated assertions from the media that the raptors were close last year in trade discussions with Utah about Kirilenko and again they are shopping him this year, as reported by Sam Smith.

So what we know is that Utah have not budged since last year, they do not want any part of Kirilenko's contract and that there is a very good likelyhood that they are looking for some veteren help at the center position if they hope to make strides in the playoffs, based on the moves around them.

Admittedly last year we could dangle Mo Pete who they did covet, whereas beyond Rasho it is hard to see any real interest in the reat of our roster. However if they could rid themselves of over $55 million in salary for around $15 million plus adding a needed role player then it starts to make some sense for them.

They could certainly use AP.

AP + Rasho for AK47

Thoughts?

The Letter V wrote:They could certainly use AP.

AP + Rasho for AK47

Thoughts?

Yup, still would.

Kirilenko's best as a PF, not a SF. Its the main reason his #'s have gone down with the emergence of Boozer.

I'de steal any talented player if it meant not giving up one of our top players. That said I don't think Kirilenko is the answer to our 3 problem. He's not a very good perimiter defender, but a good help defender kind of like Moon although better at pretty much everything. Think he's best as a 4. I'de still rather get Artest, or Magette, but if AK, or Miller can be had for cheap of course I'de take them.

Los Manos wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I am making the assumption more out of the repeated assertions from the media that the raptors were close last year in trade discussions with Utah about Kirilenko and again they are shopping him this year, as reported by Sam Smith.

So what we know is that Utah have not budged since last year, they do not want any part of Kirilenko's contract and that there is a very good likelyhood that they are looking for some veteren help at the center position if they hope to make strides in the playoffs, based on the moves around them.

Admittedly last year we could dangle Mo Pete who they did covet, whereas beyond Rasho it is hard to see any real interest in the reat of our roster. However if they could rid themselves of over $55 million in salary for around $15 million plus adding a needed role player then it starts to make some sense for them.

I doubt it; if they can get real value for Kirilenko, they move him. However, his play has rebounded from last year, so it is less pressing. Trading him for bit pieces simply doesn't make sense from their perspective, especially when those pieces figure to be older than Kirilenko himself.

And Utah's cap situation is fine at the moment...they have no major pieces to re-sign until '09/'10, and they can stay below the luxury tax until that time. In two years, they will certainly need to re-evaluate things...but they have no incentive whatsoever to dump him at this moment.

contract or not, Kirilenko is the difference between getting past LeBron/Butler+Arenas types in the 1st round, I'm pretty sure he'll tame Paul Pierce and Rip Hamilton too


on a side note, I would say Rip and AK are the best movers off the ball, both defensively and offensively, so that would be interesting to watch, two guys chasing after each other constantly to compete

I would pull the trigger on Kirilenko. However, I would rather have Corey Magette. I think he suits Toronto better. Hed would be a great second option to Bosh and I beleive his contract is currently smaller. Althoough, we would have to resign him after this year

sh00n wrote:Anyone who voted no is weird.

i voted no because i was reading the question quick and i thought the question was if we pull the trigger on a trade involving one those 4

Yes...man he would be awesome here

How can you not take Kirilenko? Regardless of his awful contract he is a very good player.