Kirilenko open to signing with Jazz

[finnegan]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/220995/Kirilenko_Happy_With_Decision_To_Play_For_CSKA

“I have a huge history with the Utah Jazz and they are a priority for me among the 30 teams competing in the NBA, while CSKA are just as close to my heart in Europe and when the Final Four is over I will weigh my options and make a decision,” Kirilenko said.

We need his perimeter defense. I say bring him back for sure, if he can be had for a reasonable contract.

What is reasonable? I am thinking $5 million to $6 million range.

[DiscoLives4ever]

Just for fun, can you imagine a big lineup of Hayward-AK-Millsap-Favors-Jefferson? As long as the opposing PG and SF aren't too quick it would wreak havoc defensively... unfortunately there'd be almost no spacing on offense.

[kebutah]

I enjoyed our time with Ak for the most part but I do not want him back. We need shooters which he is never going to be,

[HolyToledo]

I dont mind him back and would love him as our starting forward with Favors at center. Meaning we trade away Big Al, Harris and Millsap for our future PG and wing to go alongside Hayward. Favors and AK-47 protecting the rim would be interesting

[MeestR]

andre kirilenko would have excelled on this team of no-stars. as long as the ball stayed out of any black-holes.

next year though, i don't think a player like ak will be a priority for this team.

[carrottop12]

I think he'd actually fit in really well now that Deron is gone, and the fact that we don't have a true PG.

But whether or not he comes back isn't all that important to me, though we could play the big line up with him at SF and move Paul for a better fit for our team.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

I'd love to have him back for the right price.

If he did come back though, he MUST start at the 4 spot. Favors at the 5 with Ak at the 4 would be a defensive nightmare. Probably the best defensive big man starting line in the entire NBA.

[Thats_my_chippy]

With Raja, CJ and Josh all probably not in a Jazz Uniform next year, I would certainly sign AK47 again. I want to see him retire a Jazz man. We will just have to move Milsap for a shooter or true point gaurd.

[FJS]

He is showing some loyalty...
He did not need to make those comments, and he did it.
He is inconsistent, but he is on, he is a pleasure to watch.
I would sign him and then trade Millsap.
Ak can play SF and can play PF alongside Favors, Big Al or Kanter.

[qman]

Look at this way. He is better than CJ or Howard. If we trade Jefferson for anything we could AK at PF next to Favors at times.

[FJS]

http://rockmonster.blogs.deseretnews.co ... k-to-utah/

[Deinonychus]

Dreaming here, but....

Nash (or Dragic) / Burks / Hayward / Kirilenko / Favors

with a bench of

Watson / Rush / Carroll / Jefferson / Kanter

sounds pretty amazing to me.

There would be a lot of good passing and ball-movement, and an AK/Favors backcourt would be amazing defensively. You could also do Nash/Hayward/AK/Favors/Jefferson if Jefferson can't be moved to the bench. We would be moving Harris and Millsap in a sign-and-trade for Nash in these deals.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Dreaming here, but....

Nash (or Dragic) / Burks / Hayward / Kirilenko / Favors

Say no more, I'm sold.

This would be my favorite Jazz team since the Stockton and Malone days. They would be such a fun team to watch.

[SoCalJazzFan]

I love AK's comments and attitude towards Utah and the Jazz.

But seriously folks- sign him and get rid of Sap? Are you crazy?

Sap in roughly the same minutes gets more points (5 per game) and rebounds (4 per game) than AK did his last year here. Saps blocks and assists are only slightly lower than AK's. Sap is alos 4 years younger!

If he took Howard type of money ($2-$3M per year), I'd love to have him on the bench. I don't think he is worth 3X as Howard was this past year. Also, at 31 yrs old, he is quickly going to fade, so anything over a 1-2 yr contract wouldn't make any sense.

[FJS]

I love AK's comments and attitude towards Utah and the Jazz.

But seriously folks- sign him and get rid of Sap? Are you crazy?

Sap in roughly the same minutes gets more points (5 per game) and rebounds (4 per game) than AK did his last year here. Saps blocks and assists are only slightly lower than AK's. Sap is alos 4 years younger!

If he took Howard type of money ($2-$3M per year), I'd love to have him on the bench. I don't think he is worth 3X as Howard was this past year. Also, at 31 yrs old, he is quickly going to fade, so anything over a 1-2 yr contract wouldn't make any sense.

I said trade millsap... so it's not AK for Millsap, it's Ak for Millsap + more minutes to develop Favors and Kanter and one player who has more or less the same value of Millsap playing pg or sg.

[Spottieottie]

Nooope. Nope nope nope nope nope nope. nopenopenopenopenopenopenopenopenopenopenopenope

[Spottieottie]

Not saying he won't be good somewhere. But please not here!

[jazzed77]

I would like seeing AK back with the Jazz depending on price. If it happened I wouldnt mind seeing a scoring pg/min sg paired with Hayward and AK as the ballhandlers

[StocktonShorts]

Between Boozer, Kirilenko and Deron Williams, Jazz fans are getting good at hating great players -- even players who say nothing but good things about the organization and defend Utah as a place to live.

[red4hf]

If we can trade Millsap and Harris, or Jefferson and Harris for a good PG, I'd be in favor of bringing AK back......

Especially, if he comes at a discount......