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2012 or sooner: When will Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko sign with CSKA?September 17 08  NBA news mixed with analysis … Their News: “Today morning krepsinis.net published an article about Andrei Kirilenko(2.06-F) and a potential interest of CSKA for the player known as "AK-47". This comes to pair with the rumors that circulated regarding Ben Gordon and CSKA a few weeks ago. The article says that CSKA wants to offer Kirilenko a contract to rival that of other NBA stars." (Insidehoops rumors section) Our Quick Analysis: Kobe. LeBron. CP3. All summer, we’ve heard of American superstars leaving the NBA for the mega-contracts of Europe. Eventually, an elite U.S. player will hit up international waters for twice his salary. However, several European stars in David Stern’s league are prime targets to swap the NBA for the lifestyle and money of home. No target is bigger than Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko. In three seasons, Kirilenko’s ‘max’ contract with the Jazz expires and he could very well sign with CSKA. After all, home is where the heart is. And the club plays in his native Russia, where the ‘three-man’ is beloved for his heroics at the 2007 EuroBasket Championship. His wife, Masha, is a former European pop princess. He has been unhappy in Utah. In recent years, Kirilenko has struggled as the fourth star behind Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and Deron Williams even crying during a media scrum in the 2006-07 playoffs. Overseas, in Russia, Kirilenko is the unquestioned first option. He’s done this before. In September 2007, rumours had Kirilenko trying to void the remaining four years and 60 million dollars on his NBA contract to join CSKA. Today, the Russian club has more money, power, and prestige and would pay him a salary greater than an NBA ‘max’ deal. Kirilenko will eventually return to Europe. Here’s the question: will he challenge the NBA and FIBA by trying to sign with CSKA before his contract with the Jazz expires? When will Kirilenko join CSKA? In 2012 or sooner? Let us know in the comment box below and return to HoopsVibe’s NBA blog for more tidbits. Photo courtesy of interbasket.
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