Sixth-man and insurance: Why Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko is now valuable

October 15 08

When Utah signed Andrei Kirilenko to a six year, 86 million dollar ‘max’ contract in 2004, they expected a star. He was deemed ‘The Guy’, a player capable of stuffing the stat sheet, defending four positions, and leading in the post Stockton-to-Malone era.

The Jazz, still flush with cap space, also invested 110 million dollars in multi-year pacts for power forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet Okur. They also drafted Deron Williams, who quickly developed into an elite point guard and All-Star.

‘The Guy’ grew frustrated with fourth banana status, requesting trades, feuding with coach Jerry Sloan, and breaking into tears in front of reporters. Rumours had him breaking his lucrative NBA contract to join CSKA Moscow in his native Russia.

The club had few options. A trade was unlikely because Kirilenko’s stock had plummeted and opponents were only offering their expensive problems. A buyout, paying him to disappear while getting nothing back, wasn’t happening either.

So they stayed put. Salt Lake City’s patience will get rewarded. The ‘Euro’ has shifted to the bench for pre-season, functioning as sixth-man. This is perfect. The Russian gets to play his preferred power forward spot, becomes the primary scorer with the second-unit, and can influence tempo with his energy.

Everybody wins. Kirilenko feels loved. And Utah has someone to fill the Manu Ginobili role.

There is another angle. Boozer and Okur each hold player options for 2009-10 and could leave as free agents in July. Boozer has been linked to Miami, while Okur might get an offer he can’t refuse. Kirilenko is insurance, a 6-10 version of All-State until management figures out the four and five spots long-term.

‘AK-47’, even at 16 million dollars per season, has value. And his situation is worth watching in 2008-09.

Would Kirilenko work as first player off Utah’s bench? Should the Jazz hang onto him with the unknown future of their frontcourt? Get at us in the comment box with thoughts and return to HoopsVibe the Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of Kris247.

10 Comments: Sixth-man and insurance: Why Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko is now (...)

Posted by
Ozzy
on 11.2.2008

AK47 should come off the bench. The Jazz need someone has good as AK47 to come off the bench. AK47 gives the jazz a lot of energy while playing. The rest of the bench is good enough to do something with AK47’s energy. i do think that CJ Miles should be benched. Harpring should take his spot. .

Posted by

on 10.18.2008

I like AK; he will have a good year Indeed! .

Posted by
Jay H
on 10.16.2008

Can U say desperate. They should make a new show called desperate seller from home. Nobody is going to your website dude, you’re sales pitch and marketing is all messed up. Then he had the nerve to pull out the forrest gump card. Hell naw, please keep his stuff posted hoopsvibe, so we can laugh and laugh into the night. Also I think AK-47 should be traded while his stock is still solid. Basically for the reasons Raul said .

Posted by
Young Rome Is Burning
on 10.16.2008

Sounds like a scam. this has nothing to do with hoops, i started reading and I am like where is he going with this, turns out he’s selling knocked off goods. LOL! Life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re gonna get. Alright now to the actual topic. I agree the with the P.O.P he pretty much laid it out, so I won’t repeat. I’m out .

Posted by
RAUL
on 10.16.2008

TRADE THAT BUM. I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE TRADED HIM FOR SHAWN MARION COUPLE SEASONS AGO. AK PLAYS WHEN HE WANTS TO, HE DOESN’T FIT THE BILL OF THIS TEAM FULL OF HUSTLERS. IF HE WAS CONSISTENT MAYBE, BUT HE’S NOT. GET A GUY AT HIS SPOT THEY PUTS IN A 110% YEAR AROUND .

Posted by
Jazzy Guy
on 10.16.2008

I agree with Lil Dick. That is a good rotation. As a Jazz fan, I feel Brewer is a better 6th man than a starter. The energy he brings is awesome. As a starter he likes to throw up shots in a hurry and it throws him and the team out of wack the majority of time .

Posted by
Lil Dick
on 10.16.2008

Terrible move. There lineup should be . PG- DWILL, SG- KORVER, SF-KIRILENKO PF- BOOZER, C- OKUR, Bench in order: BREWER, HARPRING, MILLSAP, KNIGHT, COLLINS, MILES, PRICE. .

Posted by
A.Canadian.Hoops.Junkie
on 10.16.2008

Yeah, AK47 off the bench is a smart move. But would that slide Harpring or Korver into the starting 5? I’d go with Harpring, simply cause he could do well as one of the "glue-guys" for Utah’s starting lineup. And he is more well-rounded than Korver. (Matt for sure out-hustles Korver on the defensive end.) Anyways, AK47 should flourish as the first option off the bench. In my opinion, versatility bodes well for the sixth man role. And AK47 has that in spades. He can come in from positions 2-5 and brings pretty much every asset of the game when he’s on the floor. Need defense? Rebounding? Hustle? Passing? Decent 2nd Unit scoring? AK47 has all of these. With all of that said, I hate AK47, the person. Whiny, and unappreciative he comes across. Feuding with Sloan, problems with his role etc. And he’s wayy too overpaid. But again, you can’t deny his all-around game. Good call Oly, good call. .

Posted by
40inchleaper
on 10.15.2008

this would be a great idea! AK47 cannot have what he wants if he’s goin’ to play as a starter with D-Will and Booze .

Posted by
P.O.P Da 6th Man
on 10.15.2008

Players like him, Odom, McDyess, Ginobili, are better assets coming off the bench than starting. That change th pace of the game and are the go to guys in that unit. Plus they still get starters minutes and can play create a whole new game plan by starting or coming off the bench because I team won’t know. I love the idea and think more players should embra-------this role. As you can see they are all still highly paid to, and it could actually make their monies worth by doing this .

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	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

Sixth-man and insurance: Why Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko is now valuable

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