RealGM

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/220575/Kirilenko_Named_Euroleagues_Top_Defender

Just thought this might be interesting to Jazz fans, I'm glad he's having a lot of success in Europe.

I wouldn't want him to take too much time away from Hayward and Burks, but I'd like to see him make a return to the Jazz as the bench guy.

I would like him to stay where he is successful, not here.

I would LOVE to see Kirilenko back in a Jazz uni, assuming that he would accept the proper pay, based on his market value in the NBA.

I hope AK stays in Russia...... But he's coming back to the NBA next year, just not to the Jazz.....

red4hf wrote:But he's coming back to the NBA next year, just not to the Jazz.....

I'm fine with that. The ship has sailed. That russian owner probably overpay to get him back in the NBA

Who?

I would love to have him back in a Jazz jersey.

I can understand missing AK: the crying, the 20 missed games a year, the pouting, the never improving jump shot. He was always the best.

If the Jazz don't resign Josh or CJ then I would like the team to take AK into consideration. Limit his minutes to 20 a night coming off the bench to keep him durable enough to last the NBA season. He can be extremely effective as long as he's healthy.

I do miss AK: the hustle, the all-around game, his willingess to share the ball, his never-failing defense. He wasn't the best, but he was pretty darn good.

I'm not saying AK doesn't have flaws, but if he would be willing to come here in a limited bench role for the right price, he could really help us out. And I, for one, would love to have him retire here in Utah.

I'd like to move Millsap and Jefferson and play AK at power forward again, I miss those days ... But that ship has probably sailed for both sides.

I'm with you 100% there babyjax. I think a lot of people forget about how great AK was at the power forward position...I think a lot of his struggles came from the arrival of Boozer and moving to the small forward spot.

Deinonychus wrote:I'm with you 100% there babyjax. I think a lot of people forget about how great AK was at the power forward position...I think a lot of his struggles came from the arrival of Boozer and moving to the small forward spot.

Yup, I remember when he and Gasol were up for their first paydays and Pau got a max contract. People were saying, "AK is better, so if Pau got it - he should too." IMHO, signing Boozer was O'Conner's worst move as GM.

Signing Boozer was worst move? That's a terrible opinion. Your opinion is wrong. .. But seriously that's just not true at all. Boozer was a key piece on some very successful teams. Dumb thing to say

And I am in awe at the contingent of remaining AK fans here. Dude was a slightly better CJ miles, when all was said and done. Mentally weak and terrible for a locker room. People hate Raja Bell yet forget AK was just as bad with frequent locker room derails

Spottieottie wrote:Signing Boozer was worst move? That's a terrible opinion. Your opinion is wrong. .. But seriously that's just not true at all. Boozer was a key piece on some very successful teams. Dumb thing to say

He was a part of some good teams, but we paid him over $10 million per year to play 51 games his first year, 33 his second and 37 his fourth. Kirilenko was just at a different level as a player in his prime (which was far too short). His defense was incredible - I think people have forgotten just how special of a player he was. I don't mind taking a flyer on a player or taking a risk, but as soon as Andrei moved to small forward he became less effective. We should have moved Boozer in 06-07 (when he was healthy and had plenty of value).

And I am in awe at the contingent of remaining AK fans here. Dude was a slightly better CJ miles, when all was said and done.

And talk about a dumb thing to say ...

babyjax13 wrote:

Spottieottie wrote:Signing Boozer was worst move? That's a terrible opinion. Your opinion is wrong. .. But seriously that's just not true at all. Boozer was a key piece on some very successful teams. Dumb thing to say

He was a part of some good teams, but we paid him over $10 million per year to play 51 games his first year, 33 his second and 37 his fourth. Kirilenko was just at a different level as a player in his prime (which was far too short). His defense was incredible - I think people have forgotten just how special of a player he was. I don't mind taking a flyer on a player or taking a risk, but as soon as Andrei moved to small forward he became less effective. We should have moved Boozer in 06-07 (when he was healthy and had plenty of value).

And I am in awe at the contingent of remaining AK fans here. Dude was a slightly better CJ miles, when all was said and done.

And talk about a dumb thing to say ...

We'll just have to agree to disagree. AK's max was understandable given the context of what exactly was going on with Jazz at that time, but with our 20-20 hindsight goggles on *that* was clearly the worst contract KOC has ever given out. His hands were tied at the time, but let me put it this way: Without that 21 or whatever million being tied up in AK at that time we could have used it to complete a championship caliber roster. That core's window was crippled because of AKs contract. You cannot say the same about Boozer. This is not even to mention the fact that AK was just as chronically injured as Boozer was. Clearly your opinion of AK is a lot higher than mine.

I'll just take solace in the fact that AK will never ever be anywhere near a Utah Jazz jersey for as long as I live, unless he's guarding Hayward as a member of a rival team.

babyjax13 wrote:I'd like to move Millsap and Jefferson and play AK at power forward again, I miss those days ... But that ship has probably sailed for both sides.

Ya, I wanted to do that back when we had Boozer... we could've moved Booze for a shooter/scorer and played AK at the 4 and things would've been just fine.

I would still love to play him at the 4 now if he was willing to come back for the right price.

I just want to prove my point that AK was a great starting power forward:
PER 36
2003-04 16p 8r 3a 2s 3b (started at power forward all year)
2004-05 17p 7r 4a 2s 4b (Boozer 51 games)
2005-06 15p 8r 4a 1s 3b (Boozer 33 games)
2008-09 15p 6r 3a 2s 2b (Boozer 37 games)

Those are his four best years per 36, all with extensive time at power forward. And yes, AK missed some games, but not nearly at the rate of Booze.

It is time to face the truth. In his last five year contract AK missed an average of 16 games per year (82 total). Boozer missed 21 games per year (107 total) Boozers total included three years of 8, 1 and 4, and he had two extended injuries (49 and 45 games). AK was not more durable than Boozer. AK consistently missed more games per year if you exclude the one season ending Boozer injury.