The Jazz Might Trade Andrei Kirilenko
AK-47Aside from Cavs GM Danny Ferry, there’s no front office executive in the NBA who spends his night tossing and turning more frequently than Utah’s Kevin O’Connor. While Ferry can thank the never-ending LeBron-to-New York and LeBron-to-Brooklyn rumors for his insomnia, O’Connor’s got the same problem because of the looming threat that Carlos Boozer will pull a Carlos Boozer on the Jazz.
In order to keep Booz locked up and playing next to Deron Williams in the second iteration of Malone/Stockton in Salt Lake, the Jazz have crunched their numbers and realized that someone has to go.
“Can the Jazz re-sign Boozer and Okur and,” writes Steve Luhm, “combined with Deron Williams, keep their core together for the long haul without moving Andrei Kirilenko? I don’t think so.”
AK-47 makes a boatload – $49.35 million over the next three seasons, which roughly breaks down to $16 mil per year. And those figures will make him a bit tougher to trade until next summer when teams will view his remaining two seasons as an expiring contract.
But can the Jazz remain one of the top five teams in the League without Kirilenko’s versatility? Is Ronnie Brewer ready to step up and fill his shoes?
Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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August 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
slit-eyed spaniard says:
imagine, d-west, lebron, jr smith and ak-47… imagine that
August 13th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Big V says:
Yeah, they can do without him. It’s obviously not going to be the best scenario in the early going, but I think AK’s been doing less and less recently.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Luigi says:
i dont know man. Jazz are REALLY good n need AK to be the Josh Smith of the West [w/o hops] he can defend the 2.3.4 spots. i doubt hes gonna take a pay cut.
but AK used 2 be the MAN there..man what happened?
August 13th, 2008 at 9:50 am
aj says:
The Jazz need AK but they need him to play up to his abilities. They also need to win this year or next at the very latest. They’ve got the pieces, it just needs to come together now that they’re rounding into “veteran team” form.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:55 am
nerditry says:
Why the hell are they looking to keep Okur instead of AK?
Memo went for 14.5/7.7 last year in 30 minutes of burn, but is NOT a center. Dude does everything he can to stay faaar from the lane, shoots 44.5% overall and doesn’t even average half a blocked shot per game.
AK is a glue guy and works like Marion to cover up everyone else defensive liabilities. Look at how bad the Suns team defense was once Marion was gone and imagine how guys are going to blow past Boozer and Memo on the regular in 2008/09.
Luckily, they did the Jazz thing and drafted a couple of 7 ft white stiffs!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
Dude is soft that is what happen like 98% of the overseas players that come into the league. He is talented but playing in the NBA requires mental toughness which he is lacking I mean this is the same dude that was shedding tears when Coach Sloan benched him. In the words of Biggie Smalls aka Frank White “you soft Duke”.
KNICKS UP all the rest down!!
August 13th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Celts Fan says:
AK was the man when he got to play the 4, like Marion in PHX. Moving him to the 3 was a mistake. If I’m the Knicks, I’m trying like hell to get them to take soemthing to bring him in. Cleveland should be throwing expiring contracts + Delonte or Gibson + some draft picks + anyone not named LeBron at them for AK. He’d be AMAZING playing the 4 in a D’Antoni system or next to LeBron.
The way the league’s evolving, is there any real reason that the Jazz can’t play AK and Boozer as the starting 4 and 5 (Boozer at the 5) as long as you have a real 5 on the bench if it becomes a problem? I’d try that out some this year to see how it works before making a decision, cuz I trust AK being legit over the long-term more than I do Okur (he’s nice, I just really like AK.) Phx. couldn’t close the deal w/ a smaller taem, but other than Matrix and Raja, they were all useless on D. The Jazz would trot out 4 really good – stud defenders (Deron, Ronnie, AK, Boozer.)
They may get killed on the boards and over-powered or they may run laps around people with a really skilled team (and that is why I’d try it out some this year before committing to trade AK, if it doesn’t work, you can always deal him at the deadline/next summer.) It’d be fun to watch either way…
August 13th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Coop says:
Why would you re-up Okur? Get rid of the lazy fool. Who the fuck wants a gunning streak of mess who cant stop Starbury getting a lay-up?
Get out!
And AK is going nowhere this year because a) he costs a bomb and b) The Jazz will sit on their hands like always
August 13th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Logan Light says:
Yes and Yes.
Yes, they can do it without AK47. Dude is good, but where he dropped off is when he realized he was good. He started wanting the rock more. Wanted more “appreciation.” He took his focus off his D and role playing.
Which is why I say YES to Ronnie Brewer being ready to take the spot. Ronnie is long (not as long obviously), athletic, and can really get after it on D. PLUS he hasn’t really hit his stride in the league yet so Sloan can still mold him into the role player the Jazz need.
DO IT UTAH.
LL
August 13th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
@Celts Fan Look stop saying we should trade for that overpaid softee the Knicks suck enough without having another soft european player. Wish this trade on your comp in our division(Philly and T-Dot)not us we are already down and out. I hope to GOD that Donnie Walsh doesn’t entertain this.
@Logan Light You made good points he is talented but DUKE is soft he should stay in Utah.
KNICKS UP!! all the rest down!!
August 13th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Kobeef says:
I’d rather have AK than Boozer. Boozer is a bum who puts up numbers but gets killed by Odom, Duncan, Amare in the playoffs.
Trade Boozer, move Memo to PF and hope that Kosta Kufos deveolops into a starting center.
AK puts up crappy numbers becuse he doesn’t get plays in Utah. He is a role player on the Jazz which (like he says) is less than he is capable of being. AK can do it all – watch him when he plays for Russia.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Celts Fan says:
@Reed, how is AK any worse than Eddy Curry? What, cuz he cried because he was playing like crap?! At least he cares! Eddy only cares about making it to McD’s in the morning before they stop serving the McGriddle.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
@Celts Fan My point exactly so why add another overpaid softee. I’m not getting with an AK trade period you just want my team to suck more like I said before we are not a threat to you guys this year so just fall back plus McGriddles are good I just had one this morning.
@Kobeef Boozer is not a bum he just gets outplayed by the players you mention. Yeah you are right about AK when he plays with Russia in the Olympics but those rules have softees like him and Dirk looking good. They have talent but they are softer than Charmin.
KNICKS UP!! all the rest down!!
August 13th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Reed, ya man, McGriddles are awesome, but not exactly the breakfast of champions. I don’t give a crap about the Knicks. You guys are gonna suck whether you get AK or not, at least if you get him, maybe Mike D. won’t hang himself in his office by the middle of November.
You’re honestly telling me you’d rather not go after AK at all and go at it again w/ Eddy and Zach?
August 13th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
@Celts Fan I know you don’t give a crap about the Knicks by wanting us to trade for AK(lol) Yes honestly I’d rather just keep Eddy and Zach we need a major overhaul one or two trades ain’t going to cut it that band aid approach ain’t working anymore we need major surgery so I say we should just play who we got and whatever happens just happens. By the way I can’t wait to see Philly light your Celts up this season I think they will win the division this season.
KNICKS UP!! all the rest down!!!
August 13th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
doc says:
@Reed-You right about Philly busting Boston ass this year.Hell yeah Utah gonna be good without AK47 as long as they got D-Will they good.I dont want to watch Russia games to see what he can do,do that shit in the league.I only watch them teams when its they turn to catch that ass whipping.If you from Russia I understand but besides major boredom what would make somebody watch Angola vs Russia.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Reed, I think you’re going a little overboard w/ Philly winning the division, but theyr’e on the rise and should be a top 4 or 5 team in the East. Maybe in ’09-’10 they take the division, but we’re not old and falling off just yet and Thad is still a year or 2 from becoming the beast he looks to be. Also, apparently Andre Miller’s not feeling the love and starting to get a little upset. Who knows how true that is, but if he asks out, that changes a lot…
August 13th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
doc says:
@Celts If he asks out he gotta wait until next year because he got 1 year left so if he mad we dont care he beter ball or he gonna fuck his new contract numbers up.We got his ass where we want.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
@Doc Yeah Philly looks good as far as watching Russia play I’ve only seen them one time I was just making a point at Kobeef that style of ball is made for softee euro players. I don’t care where AK goes as long as he doesn’t come to New York.
@Celts Fan We will see I’m getting the NBA package so I will be watching
KNICKS UP!! all the rest down!!
August 13th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
NYCBalla says:
Would love to see AK in NYC followed by LeBron a little later. Although, if I were Utah I wouldn’t try to trade him until next summer. They got a damn good team right now who can make a serious run at a championship next year.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
the mamba says:
Ak to chicago for ben gordon?
August 13th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
the mamba says:
Ak to chicago for ben gordon/noah?
August 13th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
GEE...Burn baby burn like Lisa Lopez...poor Rison. says:
Only person I really see doing all AK does is Shawn. If they don’t get a Shawn or better for AK, then this most def. will hurt the Jazz. Don’t get me wrong Jazz will still be good. I don’t see them being as good without dude though. AK is a Russian Pimp. Recognize. LOL. Aww man now all I need is Deron to get disgruntle about being in Utah and I am straight. At least AK might be out though.
Celebration time!
August 13th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
frankie says:
Reed, you’re an idiot. Did AK pick your mom to be his one girl a year or something?
Seriously, you’re on something if you think that the Knicks could possibly be worse if they got a talent like AK. Let’s see – AK was doing fine at the 4, they have Paul Milsap…why do they need to overpay Boozer (again) again?
Oh, and doc, yea, as long as they have a single player (a point guard, no less), they’ll be fine. The hits just keep on coming with you. Remind me again the last elite point to win a championship? Other than Tony Parker? Oh, what, was it really 15 or 16 years ago that Zeke won? Seriously, people need to CALM DOWN with all this PG hero worship. It’s a big men’s game, people.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:08 am
solomon says:
russian pimp ROFL… looks more like a russian fido dido…
anyway, let effin’ booze go… trade him to the clippers or GS for 20 future 1st rounders… millsap might not be 20/10, but dude can do decent… i’d rather have a swiss knife (ak – which can do it all) than a butcher knife (booze)…
and if not, ditch okur… the tallest shooting guard alive…
deron / brewer / ak / okur or booze or millsap / koufos will be good enough
August 14th, 2008 at 5:39 am
mon says:
boozer is the one that needs to go. once he’s gone, AK can go back to playing at the 4. all of the jazz’ defensive shortcomings were on full display during the playoffs (with boozer playing no D whatsoever). they would sink even lower without AK on the team.