Page 1 of 2
"Kirilenko's dry eyes belie his sad plight"
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:56 pm
by JStockLivesOn
I'm not certain how much I trust Gordon Monson's insights, but does this particular article seem a logical interpretation of AK's press remarks? Maybe I'm just being naive in thinking that he let go of some of his discontent this year now that Sloan and Deron are making such an effort to include AK in the offense.
After most of the gang of reporters had scattered, the session got juicier when Kirilenko was asked what he thought about the criticism that had been aimed at him last year after everything that happened in the playoffs and over the offseason, when he proclaimed to the world that he wanted out of Utah.
"I never really care what public thinks," he said. "I don't care about that."
What about your teammates, and their criticism?
"Everybody has their own opinion," he said. "Sometimes people don't know the whole [story]. . . . We're like a family. I don't have any problems with it. We're friends."
When Kirilenko was asked if he thought he would be with the Jazz next year at this time, he responded: "I have three more years on my contract. That's what I have. I have no control over that."
Is that the way you want it? Do you want to be here?
"You're asking bad questions," he said.
Maybe all that matters to most is that Kirilenko is helping the Jazz win big games, again, that he is relevant to the team the way he once was.
He's doing his job.
But there is more to his whole deal than is being told.
He doesn't really want to be with the Jazz, even though he can abide it by way of an odd kind of emotional detachment. He gets a bigger kick out of playing for the Russian national team. He's not close to many of his teammates. That's OK, as long as he keeps giving the Jazz what they want on the court. A lot of great teams haven't exactly sat around the campfire singing songs and giving communal hugs.
He's playing for the Jazz because his contract has him here, and he has no control over that now. He makes a boatload of money, more than he should based on what he brings most nights. He's probably OK with that. Still, the Jazz have big contracts to extend to other key players in the near future. Do they even want Kirilenko at his heavy cost?
The most compelling questions, then, will come in the months ahead, from both directions. If the Jazz make a deep run in the playoffs or win a championship, and he has a significant hand in it, will that bring contentment to Kirilenko here?
Or will it make him want to leave, even more?
And if it does, will the Jazz care?
It's hard for me to see a guy who still loathes being here diving for loose balls like AK has been, but if that's the case, my respect for him will actually have sky-rocketed. That's the kind of professionalism you have a right to expect out of a guy being paid insane amounts of money, especially when he doesn't deserve it.
http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_8998643
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:10 pm
by BiggMann
Long live AK! That dude has to put up with so much garbage. He's one of our most valuable players, even with his low numbers, because of what he brings on the defensive end of the floor as well as his ability to get the ball in the right spot on offense.
... I am one that believe we should keep AK, but that's not my call. We'll be well into the luxury tax once Deron, Milsap and Brewer's new contracts hit the books. So LHM and KOC are going to have a tough decision to make, do they hang on to AK and eat the money they are going to lose from the luxury tax... or do they find a suitor and send AK to a situation that could eventually help both parties involved.
I really think that Ak is the Odd man out. Obviously Deron and Booz aren't going anywhere, and it's going to be hard to say goodbye to Memo considering how well him and Boozer seem to play together.
Andrei seems like the type of guy that was has a god given talent, but his interest are elsewhere so it makes it hard for him to give the kind of effort that is expected of him
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:32 pm
by SaltyDawg
This isn't even really debatable. AK refuses to say he wants to stay in Utah, nd when asked for a direct answer all he will say is "no comment" or "you are asking bad questions."
All he has to do is come out and say he wants to stay in Utah and this issue will be dead. He refuses to do that, so there must be a reason behind it.
He is simply trying to increase his trade value so he can be dealt this summer.
Well, someone has to go.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:49 pm
by pink22
Eventually, someone has to go and it will probably be AK. The reason we agreed to that D. Fisher thing was because we knew we needed the money to re-sign Deron. That helped but we actually went backwards with the trade for Korver because Giri's money was coming off the books. So we need the money to re-sign Deron AND Millsap who will get crazy love from other teams if he's a free agent. AK is our most expensive player and based on production, isn't worth it. I love him and hope if he goes, it's to a team in the East.
Obviously there are other players salaries that we can work into a this, but you get the gist. My guess is AK is gone this summer. Maybe to Europe. That would be sweet so he wouldn't have to ever reject any Jazz shots.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:01 pm
by JDubJazz
Sounds mostly like the increasingly bitter Gordon Monson trying to stir the pot a bit.
If the Jazz move Andrei, it will because it makes the most basketball/fiscal sense to do so. It won't be because some pompous writer is trying to pick at an already healed wound.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:38 pm
by BiggMann
agreed!
Monson is a freakin TOOL!! It's like he doesn't know what else to write about. How about the fact that the Jazz are 96 minutes of basketball away from a 1st round sweep and some much needed rest for LA.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:54 pm
by jazzfan1971
He should have said, 'I love it here, I want to retire in a Jazz uni.'
True or not, that should have been his response.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:10 pm
by carrottop12
Obviously he understands what position he is in just like we all do.
He has the biggest contract, and he has been in trade talks already, and with Deron's extension coming up he understands all the possibilities.
He will be moved for an expiring contract and a role player, he will be great somewhere else, and Deron will stay with the Jazz.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:21 pm
by JDubJazz
A note of clarification: I'm not trying to Argue that Andrei will not be moved. In fact, I think its likely that he will be. I do take umbrage, however, at Gordon Monson digging up an old story because he's too lazy to come up with anything original. I love how Monson likes to tout his "unbiased" opinion, when in fact he is quite biased . . . against the Jazz.
reply
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:34 pm
by sendai91
I can't stand Monson myself. He seems like a perpetually unhappy soul with little positive to say about the players or the team. I think that we do have to trade AK, this year or next. But, it would be great if Monson left town before then. Thank goodness AK realizes the value he has if he's playing well - the further we go into the postseason, the more we get for him.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 7:37 pm
by Neon Black
I agree that monson should not even have brought this up, especailly during the playoffs. what is he thinking?
all that aside, if AK doesn't want to be here (evidence seems to lean that way) then WHY would anyone want him here? We have alot of developing talent to replace him, we could free up cap space and get some defense in a trade.
We don't necessarily need equal value for him, just someone to compliment our team and compensate for a weakness or two.
It's about chemistry, not having 5 All Stars on your team.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:29 pm
by Rive
SaltyDawg wrote:This isn't even really debatable. AK refuses to say he wants to stay in Utah, nd when asked for a direct answer all he will say is "no comment" or "you are asking bad questions."
All he has to do is come out and say he wants to stay in Utah and this issue will be dead. He refuses to do that, so there must be a reason behind it.
He is simply trying to increase his trade value so he can be dealt this summer.
+1
I have never understood the mental make-up of AK. Whenever I hear him speak, I always feel like I'm not getting the full story. Just by reading some of quotes from these past two games has made me sense something fishy about him. First, he says that he is taking basketball more seriously and that here in America professional basketball needs to be taken a lot mores seriously. Then, in another interview, he credits his success to the fact that he is taking things more seriously. I don't get it. After he scores 21 points in game 1 he says how excited he is and that he finally feels comfortable that he played his game. Then before game 2 he says he doesn't care at all about how he plays, just as long as the jazz win.
The man is a walking contradiction. If he wanted to be here, he should say it flat-out when asked about it.
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:03 pm
by yDiamond
AK is a human being, who is unusually sincere and sensitive for a public figure.
At the same time he is a great talent, who has a huge contract and doesn't really fit in the current Utah team.
Hopefully, this summer he will be traded to a team that can better utilize his talents, and Jazz will keep other key players and continue to rise as a force in Western conference.
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:18 am
by bleu
The NBA is a business and I wouldn't have answered that **** questions either if I was in AK's shoes.
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:32 am
by SaltyDawg
vainsake wrote:The NBA is a business and I wouldn't have answered that **** questions either if I was in AK's shoes.
So AK very publicly demands a trade before the season. After the season you think reporters are out of line asking him if he still wants a trade?
By the way, for everyone saying Monson shouldn't have brought it up- Monson didn't bring it up. After game 1, the practice the next day, Rick Aaron of Fox 13 asked AK if he still wanted to be traded (because it was the practice after game 1 last year when AK started crying). AK refused to answer his question.
So Monson didn't bring it up. He just did his job by reporting on a possible (and probable) issue with the Jazz most emotional player.
Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:06 am
by SkyHook
I've got no problem with the reporters asking the question. I also have no problem with AK declining to answer it. I'd rather he decline to answer than to give some BS response like "I love it here and want to retire in a Jazz uni".
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:11 pm
by GP
SkyHook wrote:I've got no problem with the reporters asking the question. I also have no problem with AK declining to answer it. I'd rather he decline to answer than to give some BS response like "I love it here and want to retire in a Jazz uni".
+1. Exactly, AK could just give us some BS remark, then go and ask to be traded. I would guess that even if he did give us some BS remark like that some people on this board would question his honesty.
Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:38 pm
by Duiz
I think AK is fine. He has zimmered down. I just think his athleticism is long gone which isn't good.
Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:43 pm
by TheRevTy
Isn't he better suited as a PF? It seems he can hack it as a SF, but is best not having to chase the T-Macs of the world around the perimeter, but rather hovering around the lane, waiting to change shots and suck in rebounds.
Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:08 am
by yDiamond
He would be great as PF in a running team like Suns or Warriors. In the half-court he doesn't have the body to bump against heavier guys. Boozer is a better PF for a classic Jazz offense (when he shows up to play).