Yahoo: Spurs' talks for Andrei Kirilenko end without deal

[r0drig0lac]

Nets are going to pay 86.5 mill in luxury tax. wow

[HemisfairArena]

Nets are definitely a contender now. If we can make the Finals...they can as well. They are every bit as talented as us now.

[SA210]

:lol Bonner

[r0drig0lac]

Nets are definitely a contender now. If we can make the Finals...they can as well. They are every bit as talented as us now.

they have more options that can create his own shot, this time for the playoffs will make a huge difference, and a defensive anchor in KG .. definitely a favorite

[LakerHater]

So can we get Monte Ellis for $3 mil?

[HemisfairArena]

they have more options that can create his own shot, this time for the playoffs will make a huge difference, and a defensive anchor in KG .. definitely a favorite


Totally agree. Their window may be short lived but it is a great team. I think they can beat the Heat or Pacers now. It wouldnt shock me in the least. Barring major injuries, they will win 58+ games easily.

[xmas1997]

So can we get Monte Ellis for $3 mil?


Why not, what's the difference in 8 guards and 9 guards? Lol

[r0drig0lac]

exactly what I think, and when the contract expires in two years, will have a lot of cap space and an owner who does not mind spending 150 million, they definitely here to stay

[LakerHater]

355473531385020422 (https://twitter.com/MikePradaSBN/status/355473531385020422)

[SpurPadre]

So can we get Monte Ellis for $3 mil?

No way in hell. That dude is looking to get paid as much as possible. He fired his agent recently too.

[LakerHater]

Nets' payroll: $187 million

[Budkin]

What a bunch of bullshit.

[tesseractive]

No way in hell. That dude is looking to get paid as much as possible. He fired his agent recently too.
Of course he's looking to be paid. But given how much money teams have left, where is he going to go that's going to pay him at this point?

I'm sure someone will find more under the couch cushions to pay him than $3M, but he's definitely not getting the offer he was hoping for -- which is why he fired his crappy agent.

[LakerHater]

Nets starting lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez will earn more than $82 million combined!!

Bench: Andrei Kirilenko, Andray Blatche, Reggie Evans, Mirza Teletovic, Shaun Livingston, MarShon Brooks and first-round pick Mason Plumlee.

[Budkin]

http://dofcsportsfan.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/flip_saunders1.jpg?w=500

Flip fucking bent us over. Why? Hates the Spurs?

[HemisfairArena]

Nets starting lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez will earn more than $82 million combined!!

Bench: Andrei Kirilenko, Andray Blatche, Reggie Evans, Mirza Teletovic, Shaun Livingston, MarShon Brooks and first-round pick Mason Plumlee.

Prokhorov doesnt care. He has arguablly the deepest pockets of any owner in the NBA. he more than the Knicks and Lakers owners combined. The guy could lose a billion and it wouldnt faze him a bit.

[benefactor]

Prokhorov doesnt care. He has arguablly the deepest pockets of any owner in the NBA. he more than the Knicks and Lakers owners combined. The guy could lose a billion and it wouldnt faze him a bit.
Yeah...he wipes his ass with that 187 million.

[LakerHater]

Prokhorov doesnt care. He has arguablly the deepest pockets of any owner in the NBA. he more than the Knicks and Lakers owners combined. The guy could lose a billion and it wouldnt faze him a bit.
Bet he buys World Peace!

[tesseractive]

Flip fucking bent us over. Why? Hates the Spurs?
We had to ship out enough salary, which meant that either Flip or somebody had to take Bonner. I can giving a little help to another team, but taking on a $4M salary you don't want?

[HemisfairArena]

Yeah...he wipes his ass with that 187 million.


Basically right. They guy is worth close to 18 billion dollars. He could buy all NBA teams combined and have money left over.

[Chinook]

Bet he buys World Peace!

Doubt it. He's Russian, after all.

[tesseractive]

Bet he buys World Peace!
I don't know... I think world peace would be bad for his business. :lol

[LakerHater]

355477148577959938"]355477148577959938[/URL]

[milkyway21]

:wtf short terms less, money?

with Flip Saunders / Kevin Garnet :stirpot:

[kobyz]

Kirilenko giving up 7 million to play with his russian Nets and Manu couldn't give up 1 dolar?!!?

[benefactor]

Kirilenko giving up 7 million to play with his russian Nets and Manu couldn't give up 1 dolar?!!?
He isn't giving up any money...he's just not making it in the states.

[kobyz]

He isn't giving up any money...he's just not making it in the states.

or maybe he just making a favor...

[benefactor]

More like receiving one.

[Ron Swanson]

Russians don't take a dump without a plan.

[angelbelow]

So close.. but not really :lol. I think I mentioned this earlier but it feels like the Scola situation from last season. Long shot but hard not to hope.

[slick'81]

Great bench piece for the nets

[Tuddy]

prokhorov must be doing something for him back home

[Dverde]

Still don't understand paying Manu 7M a year. Screwed up our ability to sign another piece. I understand he turned down more money with the Nuggets. His last contract was too much and now they overpay him again. Couldn't the Spurs give him a front office job after he retires "scouting" players in Argentina to pay him back.

[Russo21]

Considering Manu only plays like 25 minutes a game and 60 or less games a season, his contract is even more hideous.

[Sean Cagney]

I still don't know why some had hope and still believed we were getting AK all of yesterday because some were not signed yet so the SPURS were up to something lol! I knew it was not no CIA POP or whatever at work and it was just somethinge else entirely and we were not getting AK! The thread title said it all, lol waste after that was said because he was not coming here.


I still can't believe he signed for so cheap though? 3.1 milli is a deal! DAMN SPURS!
Still don't understand paying Manu 7M a year. Screwed up our ability to sign another piece. I understand he turned down more money with the Nuggets. His last contract was too much and now they overpay him again. Couldn't the Spurs give him a front office job after he retires "scouting" players in Argentina to pay him back.
Yeah Manus contract is horrible.

[DesignatedT]

I guess he did want to go to a contender.

[spurs10]

I guess he did want to go to a contender. My exact thoughts! :toast

[HI-FI]

Russians don't take a dump without a plan.
:lol
great line, great movie.

[dallasmaverickslose]

:pctoss What a huge waste of a thread, tbh.

[Sean Cagney]

:pctoss What a huge waste of a thread, tbh.

Waste of a thread? THE TITLE told the truth about it ending without a deal, it should have ended right there to be honest.

[dallasmaverickslose]

Waste of a thread? THE TITLE told the truth about it ending without a deal, it should have ended right there to be honest.

That's what I meant...

[Sean Cagney]

That's what I meant...

Cool, some though all day yesterday making trades and how we could still get him and the others did not sign yet because we are getting him CIA POP stuff were fooling themselves. I told them this, oh well I already moved on and knew he was not coming. Not the end here though, no huge deal!

[dallasmaverickslose]

Cool, some though all day yesterday making trades and how we could still get him and the others did not sign yet because we are getting him CIA POP stuff were fooling themselves. I told them this, oh well I already moved on and knew he was not coming. Not the end here though, no huge deal!

The AK47 to Spurs seemed like too much of a pipedream to be real, tbh.

[RD2191]

:lmao

[ace3g]

:(

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/999006_395264073912347_2053806348_n.jpg

[RD2191]

:lmao

[Johnny RIngo]

The AK47 to Spurs seemed like too much of a pipedream to be real, tbh.

How was it a pipe dream when SA attempted a sign and trade that was rejected by Minny. SA obviously tried to acquire him.

[Bruno]

WoW, Spurs blew Kirilenko for Pendergraph. Congrats. :tu

[Sean Cagney]

:(

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/999006_395264073912347_2053806348_n.jpg

We signed him and the home ALONE CROOK HYBRID!!!!!!!!!!!http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYuuACBCOS0/TyLStwTxU4I/AAAAAAAAAdg/kg7zCEYEFG4/s400/crooks.jpg

[LakerHater]

355559586691969024 (https://twitter.com/NYDNInterNets/status/355559586691969024)

[TheGoldStandard]

WoW, Spurs blew Kirilenko for Pendergraph. Congrats. :tu

Because the new guy was real high on him... lol at this guy sitting on the bench

[ace3g]

Jared Dudley @JaredDudley619
(http://twitter.com/JaredDudley619)Another Russian AK47 for the NBA opted out of a 10 million dollar contract to sign a contact with the Nets for 3 million?!!!' #nocomment (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23nocomment)

[Sean Cagney]

Jared Dudley @JaredDudley619
(http://twitter.com/JaredDudley619)Another Russian AK47 for the NBA opted out of a 10 million dollar contract to sign a contact with the Nets for 3 million?!!!' #nocomment (http://twitter.com/search?q=%23nocomment)


Yep, something was definitely up there! He was never coming to SA, his intention all along was probably to sign there so Spurs fans should not feel bad about it anymore. He took way less to go where he wanted to go.

[mountainballer]

the fact that one side worked hard to get a deal done does not mean the other side was ever interested.
it's like that bar situation. and the Spurs are NOT playing the role of the hot chick in that scene.

[bluebellmaniac]

$3M??? Something pretty shady about that deal... Russian billionaire owner.... yeah, there's no shadyness going on in mother Russia... Billionaires over there don't get thrown out windows or have their empires handed to someone else if they critique Putin... Sounds like AK was made an offer he couldn't refuse... I assume he has family in Russia...

God help him if he has a horrible year...

[coyotes_geek]

WoW, Spurs blew Kirilenko for Pendergraph. Congrats. :tu

They assumed they would have the MLE to use on other players because AK was telling them he wanted way more than MLE money. Seems pretty silly to hold it against the Spurs for not having the clairovoyance to forsee that a guy who just opted out of a $10 mil contract would agree to one for $3. Had they known it was going to go that way, they'd probably have done something different.

Besides, even if you want to take this line of thinking, the Spurs would have blown Kirilenko for Belinelli, not Pendergraph. Pendergraphs deal would have left enough MLE to give AK the $3.1 he took from Brooklyn. Belinelli's wouldn't have.

[K-State Spur]

WoW, Spurs blew Kirilenko for Pendergraph. Congrats. :tu

So, if the Spurs don't sign Pendergraph, AK47 was coming here - no doubt?

Even if he wanted to play here over New York (which has not been established), that the Spurs could have offered more than the total package of what he's getting from Prokhorov is highly unlikely.

[Mel_13]

So how much cash was delivered to AK's relatives in Russia?

[Bruno]

They assumed they would have the MLE to use on other players because AK was telling them he wanted way more than MLE money. Seems pretty silly to hold it against the Spurs for not having the clairovoyance to forsee that a guy who just opted out of a $10 mil contract would agree to one for $3. Had they known it was going to go that way, they'd probably have done something different.

Besides, even if you want to take this line of thinking, the Spurs would have blown Kirilenko for Belinelli, not Pendergraph. Pendergraphs deal would have left enough MLE to give AK the $3.1 he took from Brooklyn. Belinelli's wouldn't have.

Spurs could have try to sign Kirilenko with cap space and Belinelli with the room exception. They would have been able to offer him a starting salary of $6.2M and maybe even $7.2M with a De Colo salary dump.

[ducks]

spurs did not have sam
having him they might have gotten it done
he was very creative

[coyotes_geek]

Spurs could have try to sign Kirilenko with cap space and Belinelli with the room exception. They would have been able to offer him a starting salary of $6.2M and maybe even $7.2M with a De Colo salary dump.

Reports had AK asking the Spurs for $8-$9. For all we know the Spurs offered to do exactly what you suggested and he said no.

[T Park]

Spurs could have try to sign Kirilenko with cap space and Belinelli with the room exception. They would have been able to offer him a starting salary of $6.2M and maybe even $7.2M with a De Colo salary dump.


Why do people continue to assume he would've signed here for that much?

He wanted to play for his Russian buddy and he's gonna make more than 3 million. That simple.

[cd98]

They assumed they would have the MLE to use on other players because AK was telling them he wanted way more than MLE money. Seems pretty silly to hold it against the Spurs for not having the clairovoyance to forsee that a guy who just opted out of a $10 mil contract would agree to one for $3. Had they known it was going to go that way, they'd probably have done something different.

Besides, even if you want to take this line of thinking, the Spurs would have blown Kirilenko for Belinelli, not Pendergraph. Pendergraphs deal would have left enough MLE to give AK the $3.1 he took from Brooklyn. Belinelli's wouldn't have.

But if the Spurs had not signed Belinelli, they could have signed Kirilenko and Pendergraph and then resigned Neal. I'd like that scenario better than Belinelli and Pendergraph. Both those deals may eventually work out well for the Spurs, but I'd be concerned about the Spurs lack of depth in the SF position going forward. Why can't the Spurs ever get a 6'8 guy that can play the 3 or the 4?

[coyotes_geek]

Why do people continue to assume he would've signed here for that much?

He wanted to play for his Russian buddy and he's gonna make more than 3 million. That simple.

Pretty much. The Spurs and Twolves couldn't work out a deal to get AK to SA for the $8-$9 he was looking for, so he signs with his buddy on the cheap for a deal that gives him the opportunity to try his luck in free agency again next year.

[Bruno]

Reports had AK asking the Spurs for $8-$9. For all we know the Spurs offered to do exactly what you suggested and he said no.

A player can say no early during the free agency and then say yes when he see the market for him drying. Spurs reached an agreement with Pendergraph on July 6th. If it was a given that it would sign for more than the min, they definitively close the door to sign a player for $6M or $7M per year. That's awfully soon in the free agency period to do so.

[Bruno]

Why do people continue to assume he would've signed here for that much?

He wanted to play for his Russian buddy and he's gonna make more than 3 million. That simple.

Why do you assume he wouldn't and that he picked being paid less than the half of what Spurs could have offered just to have a Russian owner.

You're making a way bigger reach than me. That simple.

[coyotes_geek]

A player can say no early during the free agency and then say yes when he see the market for him drying. Spurs reached an agreement with Pendergraph on July 6th. If it was a given that it would sign for more than the min, they definitively close the door to sign a player for $6M or $7M per year. That's awfully soon in the free agency period to do so.

So while they're waiting for AK to decide he has to settle for less, Belinelli signs in Cleveland and the Spurs are still at risk of AK finding someone who can offer more money than they can.

[Bruno]

So while they're waiting for AK to decide he has to settle for less, Belinelli signs in Cleveland and the Spurs are still at risk of AK finding someone who can offer more money than they can.

Belinelli could have very likely been signed with the room exception. Reports are he got $5.6M/2 years and the room exception is $5.42M/2 years. By playing on the salary payment schedule, Spurs could easily have offset the $180K difference.

[cd98]

So while they're waiting for AK to decide he has to settle for less, Belinelli signs in Cleveland and the Spurs are still at risk of AK finding someone who can offer more money than they can.

Statistically Belinelli and Neal aren't that different. You try and get AK and put off Belinelli because you know you have bird rights and can resign Neal if you need to. Neal isn't signed yet, so him getting an outrageous deal is something I don't think is in the cards. But who knows if Kirilenko wanted to play in S.A. I will say that we have a good reputation of giving non-American born players a chance to play, but his reputation is established in this league. He would be a welcome addition to any team assuming the price was right.

[coyotes_geek]

Belinelli could have very likely been signed with the room exception. Reports are he got $5.6M/2 years and the room exception is $5.42M/2 years. By playing on the salary payment schedule, Spurs could easily have offset the $180K difference.

Sure, he could have. He also could have gotten an even bigger offer from Cleveland while the Spurs were busy trying to orchestrate a dozen different roster moves needed to clear the cap space.

[T Park]

Why do you assume he wouldn't and that he picked being paid less than the half of what Spurs could have offered just to have a Russian owner.

You're making a way bigger reach than me. That simple.

If you think he's making only 3 million this year, I've got some beautiful ocean front condos to sell you in Montana.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

Reports had AK asking the Spurs for $8-$9. For all we know the Spurs offered to do exactly what you suggested and he said no.

Flip said no, that was the deal killer.

[coyotes_geek]

Statistically Belinelli and Neal aren't that different. You try and get AK and put off Belinelli because you know you have bird rights and can resign Neal if you need to. Neal isn't signed yet, so him getting an outrageous deal is something I don't think is in the cards. But who knows if Kirilenko wanted to play in S.A. I will say that we have a good reputation of giving non-American born players a chance to play, but his reputation is established in this league. He would be a welcome addition to any team assuming the price was right.

So what happens if Neal signs an offer sheet before you've come to an agreement with AK about how much his contract is going to be and lined up all the salary dump trades (because there were going to need to be more than one if the Spurs were going to get close to his asking price)?

More importantly, if you want to keep rights to Neal, you can't renounce him thus reducing the amount of cap space you can use on AK by $1.1 mil.

[ducks]

there was reports out neal was getting $ then spurs were willing to match and signed belinelli

[Bruno]

Sure, he could have. He also could have gotten an even bigger offer from Cleveland while the Spurs were busy trying to orchestrate a dozen different roster moves needed to clear the cap space.

You had to admit that is kinda unlikely that $180K would have made a difference.

And it took one minutes to Spurs to create $6.2M in cap space.

[Bruno]

If you think he's making only 3 million this year, I've got some beautiful ocean front condos to sell you in Montana.

If you start thinking that Kirilenko get below the table money from Prokhorov, Spurs paying $6M or $8M to Kirilenko would have made no difference. Prokhorov will pay $185M in salary and luxury tax this season. That about twice more than the second highest spending team. At that level, giving illegally $5M or $10M to Kirilenko makes no difference.

And don't forget that Nets shouldn't have had the mini MLE to spend on Kirilenko. They wanted to spend it on Korver and then on Bogdanovic.

[cd98]

there was reports out neal was getting $ then spurs were willing to match and signed belinelli

Yes, but given Neal has not signed anything, I'm curious how legit that report is.

[coyotes_geek]

You had to admit that is kinda unlikely that $180K would have made a difference.

Sure, the $180k wasn't a big deal. The risk of Belinelli rethinking his decision to walk away from $12 million, or Cleveland upping their offer was a big deal.


And it took one minutes to Spurs to create $6.2M in cap space.

Which doesn't mean much when it's still $2-$3 mil short of what AK was asking for at the time.

Again, had the Spurs had the psychic ability to forsee AK's logic-defying willingness to sign a few days later for a fraction of what he was asking for, the Spurs probably play things differently than they did.

[stéphane]

If you start thinking that Kirilenko get below the table money from Prokhorov, Spurs paying $6M or $8M to Kirilenko would have made no difference. Prokhorov will pay $185M in salary and luxury tax this season. That about twice more than the second highest spending team. At that level, giving illegally $5M or $10M to Kirilenko makes no difference.

And don't forget that Nets shouldn't have had the mini MLE to spend on Kirilenko. They wanted to spend it on Korver and then on Bogdanovic.

I like you a lot Bruno and I understand your point.
I can admit that he may or may not get additionnal $$ this year BUT we are talking about a guy who took an offer way below what he could have goten from another contender to play for Prokhorov who happens to be not only one of richest man in the world but also ... (I'm not writing but I know you're smart enough to know the big picture about him and his reported activities).

[ace3g]

Like Bruno mentioned totally forgot the impact Korver and Bogdanovic had on the Spurs landing AK


Jeff Zillgitt @JeffZillgitt
(http://twitter.com/JeffZillgitt)When Bogdanovic buyout was in jeopardy yesterday, Nets GM Billy King said, "We have a backup plan." Kirilenko is a pretty good backup plan.

[Bruno]

Again, had the Spurs had the psychic ability to forsee AK's logic-defying willingness to sign a few days later for a fraction of what he was asking for, the Spurs probably play things differently than they did.

Disagree. On July 2nd, Minny agreed to terms with Kevin Martin which mean that Kirilenko's bird rights would likely be renounced. Most of the teams with cap-space were rebuilding teams that wouldn't be interested in a 32 years old Kirilenko. So, on July 2nd, the market for Kirilenko at above the MLE was limited to something like 3-4 teams. It isn't a crazy psychic reach to think that these teams might opt to go after other free agents that Kirlenko.

[Bruno]

I like you a lot Bruno and I understand your point.
I can admit that he may or may not get additionnal $$ this year BUT we are talking about a guy who took an offer way below what he could have goten from another contender to play for Prokhorov

Honest question: what other contender could have offered Kirilenko more than $3M ?

[stéphane]

Honest question: what other contender could have offered Kirilenko more than $3M ?

Man, tough question coming from ST's financial guru! :lol
I guess some contender could either move asset or have part of the MLE to throw at him right?
I can throw names and let you correct... Houston, OKC, Miami (yeah they're not looking for his profile), Indiana or Chicago.

[coyotes_geek]

Disagree. On July 2nd, Minny agreed to terms with Kevin Martin which mean that Kirilenko's bird rights would likely be renounced. Most of the teams with cap-space were rebuilding teams that wouldn't be interested in a 32 years old Kirilenko. So, on July 2nd, the market for Kirilenko at above the MLE was limited to something like 3-4 teams. It isn't a crazy psychic reach to think that these teams might opt to go after other free agents that Kirlenko.

Minnesota was a rebuilding team that was obviously intereted in a 31 year old Kirilenko. Doesn't seem unreasonable at all to think that rebuilding teams with cap room might show interest in the guy. It also doesn't seem unreasonable to think that even if you're going to try the approach of waiting out AK until he backs off his number that it's going to take a lot longer than the July 17th deadline the Spurs have to make an Amnesty decision on Bonner.

AK settled for 1/3 of his asking price two days into the signing period. How would it be reasonable to expect the Spurs to forsee that?

[xmas1997]

I like you a lot Bruno and I understand your point.
I can admit that he may or may not get additionnal $$ this year BUT we are talking about a guy who took an offer way below what he could have goten from another contender to play for Prokhorov who happens to be not only one of richest man in the world but also ... (I'm not writing but I know you're smart enough to know the big picture about him and his reported activities).

You can say it, this is a free country: former KGB. Most in the know know they rule Russia now and the Nuevo rich Russians are former KGB. It is common knowledge all over the world now.

[Bruno]

Man, tough question coming from ST's financial guru! :lol
I guess some contender could either move asset or have part of the MLE to throw at him right?
I can throw names and let you correct... Houston, OKC, Miami (yeah they're not looking for his profile), Indiana or Chicago.

Only OKC still has the MLE of $5.15M among these teams and I don't think they will spend it for luxury tax reasons. Other teams aren't able to offer him more than the $3M give by Nets.

I have no idea whether or not Prokhorov is given some money in addition to his salary at Kirilenko. You could say it's likely if Kirilenko turn down $5M from another contender to sign with Nets for $3M but, as far I know, it isn't the case.

[Bruno]

Minnesota was a rebuilding team that was obviously intereted in a 31 year old Kirilenko. Doesn't seem unreasonable at all to think that rebuilding teams with cap room might show interest in the guy. It also doesn't seem unreasonable to think that even if you're going to try the approach of waiting out AK until he backs off his number that it's going to take a lot longer than the July 17th deadline the Spurs have to make an Amnesty decision on Bonner.

AK settled for 1/3 of his asking price two days into the signing period. How would it be reasonable to expect the Spurs to forsee that?

Well, Minny's GM was Kahn...

And I agree it wasn't really foreseeable to see Kirilenko signing for $3M but the market for Kirilenko shrinking and Kirilenko settling for a contract that was couple of $M per year below his expectation.

[Duncanonu]

I for one am thrilled that the Spurs did NOT give AK-47 a long term deal at $8-$9 million per. That would have been a worse signing than Splitter. He simply isn't worth that, and it would have meant that the Spurs would have about $22-$23 million in salary next year for 3 players that aren't even in the Spurs best lineup.

[ducks]

I for one would like to know who spurs offered to wolves

[ducks]

I for one am thrilled that the Spurs did NOT give AK-47 a long term deal at $8-$9 million per. That would have been a worse signing than Splitter. He simply isn't worth that, and it would have meant that the Spurs would have about $22-$23 million in salary next year for 3 players that aren't even in the Spurs best lineup.

if spurs won it all next year or the year after it would be worth it

[ace3g]

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
(http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA)Column: As the Kirilenko deal fuels the fury of an enraged and suspicious NBA, Prokhorov's Nets arrive as a power. tinyurl.com/n42vmcz (http://t.co/f3xocm2lys)

[spurraider21]

You can say it, this is a free country: former KGB. Most in the know know they rule Russia now and the Nuevo rich Russians are former KGB. It is common knowledge all over the world now.

You can blame the drunko boris yeltsin for that

[cd98]

Adrian Wojnarowski @WojYahooNBA
(http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA)Column: As the Kirilenko deal fuels the fury of an enraged and suspicious NBA, Prokhorov's Nets arrive as a power. tinyurl.com/n42vmcz (http://t.co/f3xocm2lys)




No doubt that acquisition makes Nets a lot better.

[cd98]

Minnesota was a rebuilding team that was obviously intereted in a 31 year old Kirilenko. Doesn't seem unreasonable at all to think that rebuilding teams with cap room might show interest in the guy. It also doesn't seem unreasonable to think that even if you're going to try the approach of waiting out AK until he backs off his number that it's going to take a lot longer than the July 17th deadline the Spurs have to make an Amnesty decision on Bonner.

AK settled for 1/3 of his asking price two days into the signing period. How would it be reasonable to expect the Spurs to forsee that?

All of this is kind of a pointless argument because we probably don't have all the facts. That said, I don't think Minnesota was a rebuilding team in the way other teams were rebuilding teams last year when Kirilenko signed with them. It's not like Minnesota was Toronto or the Bobcats. I think he saw Minnesota as an up and coming team. One that has favored foreigners. One that gave him a good contract after he was out of the league for a year. I'm not sure there were other teams that were willing to pay him what he wanted. Maybe Cleaveland, which is kind of like Minnesota last year sans a Kevin Love type of player.

[T Park]

If you start thinking that Kirilenko get below the table money from Prokhorov, Spurs paying $6M or $8M to Kirilenko would have made no difference. Prokhorov will pay $185M in salary and luxury tax this season. That about twice more than the second highest spending team. At that level, giving illegally $5M or $10M to Kirilenko makes no difference.

And don't forget that Nets shouldn't have had the mini MLE to spend on Kirilenko. They wanted to spend it on Korver and then on Bogdanovic.

The Bogdanovic signing was another "fishy" situation too.

This isn't on the up and up like that either.

[Drom John]

I'm not with conspiracy theorists on this one, even though the Russian angle is suspicious.

Kirilenko misjudged the market. Dwight Howard slowed things up. Minnesota is under new management. Spurs bungling the cap combined with Timberwolves not wanting our sign and trade. Utah going from playoff contender to tanker. OKC scared of the tax. Cavaliers surprisingly getting Bynum.
Whoops, sorry older former star, there's nothing higher than the Nets $3.1M.

Kirilenko was slighty overpaid by the Timberwolves as Schved mentor.

I believe that a lesser player than Kirilenko will be a good comparison: Monta Ellis will also sign for less than he walked away (though maybe the Hawks will surprise).

[Mel_13]

I'm not with conspiracy theorists on this one, even though the Russian angle is suspicious.

Kirilenko misjudged the market. Dwight Howard slowed things up. Minnesota is under new management. Spurs bungling the cap combined with Timberwolves not wanting our sign and trade. Utah going from playoff contender to tanker. OKC scared of the tax. Cavaliers surprisingly getting Bynum.
Whoops, sorry older former star, there's nothing higher than the Nets $3.1M.

Kirilenko was slighty overpaid by the Timberwolves as Schved mentor.

I believe that a lesser player than Kirilenko will be a good comparison: Monta Ellis will also sign for less than he walked away (though maybe the Hawks will surprise).

Need a better comparison:



Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine
Monta Ellis and Mavericks closing in on a three-year deal that could rise to as much as $30 million. Deal on course to be completed today

[Kindergarten Cop]

Need a better comparison:



Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine
Monta Ellis and Mavericks closing in on a three-year deal that could rise to as much as $30 million. Deal on course to be completed today

Technically, he is still "signing for less than he walked away from". $11M>$10M :stirpot:

:toast

[cd98]

Wow. Read From Russia With Loathe. WOJ letting Nets have it.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--nets--deal-with-andrei-kirilenko-raises-suspicions-from-nba-rivals-180604173.html

[Drom John]

Need a better comparison:



Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine
Monta Ellis and Mavericks closing in on a three-year deal that could rise to as much as $30 million. Deal on course to be completed today

Whoops.
So Ellis now fits in the Blazers/Splitter trade thread. Had we waited, the Mavericks may have been prepared to overpay.

[Mel_13]

Whoops.
So Ellis now fits in the Blazers/Splitter trade thread. Had we waited, the Mavericks may have been prepared to overpay.

I agree.

They were wining and dining Dalembert yesterday.

[spurraider21]

:lmao 46 pages AFTER talks ended

[100%duncan]

:lmao 46 pages AFTER talks ended

You wanted him too

Tee hee

[spurraider21]

You wanted him too

Tee hee
of course i did. i was a big contributor in the Pau thread too

[DPG21920]

None of this changes the fact that Jeff Ayres was a terrible move.

[cd021]

None of this changes the fact that Jeff Ayres was a terrible move.

True. As much as people call AK47 washed up he would have been a very nice get for us coming off a crushing loss that off season.

RC winning the Executive of the year by bringing in Ayers and Beli:lol. Beli did have a very good season last year but Ayers has been a bust. He Hasn't had one overly great year as an GM (in terms of free agency) but has assembled a championship team in unorthodox ways over multiple seasons that was hard to ignore in terms of success.

-Drafting Splitter who became a two way starting center with the 28th pick in the draft
-Drafting Blair with the 37th pick in the draft
-Signing Diaw after being waived by the 'Cats
-Trading Hill in return for Kawhi Leonard
-Finding Danny Green who was cut by the Cavs

Phoenix's Gm was a much better choice (swapping Gortat and Scola for 1st rounders, Gerard Green, Plumlee and acquiring Bledsoe for Jared Dudley )

[Hoops Czar]

True. As much as people call AK47 washed up he would have been a very nice get for us coming off a crushing loss that off season.

RC winning the Executive of the year by bringing in Ayers and Beli:lol. Beli did have a very good season last year but Ayers has been a bust. He Hasn't had one overly great year as an GM (in terms of free agency) but has assembled a championship team in unorthodox ways over multiple seasons that was hard to ignore in terms of success.

-Drafting Splitter who became a two way starting center with the 28th pick in the draft
-Drafting Blair with the 37th pick in the draft
-Signing Diaw after being waived by the 'Cats
-Trading Hill in return for Kawhi Leonard
-Finding Danny Green who was cut by the Cavs

Phoenix's Gm was a much better choice (swapping Gortat and Scola for 1st rounders, Gerard Green, Plumlee and acquiring Bledsoe for Jared Dudley )
Blair was highly overrated; Diaw was an overweight bust for the Cats and Green was cut by the Spurs before he was waived by the Cavs.

[exstatic]

True. As much as people call AK47 washed up he would have been a very nice get for us coming off a crushing loss that off season.

RC winning the Executive of the year by bringing in Ayers and Beli:lol. Beli did have a very good season last year but Ayers has been a bust. He Hasn't had one overly great year as an GM (in terms of free agency) but has assembled a championship team in unorthodox ways over multiple seasons that was hard to ignore in terms of success.

-Drafting Splitter who became a two way starting center with the 28th pick in the draft
-Drafting Blair with the 37th pick in the draft
-Signing Diaw after being waived by the 'Cats
-Trading Hill in return for Kawhi Leonard
-Finding Danny Green who was cut by the Cavs

Phoenix's Gm was a much better choice (swapping Gortat and Scola for 1st rounders, Gerard Green, Plumlee and acquiring Bledsoe for Jared Dudley )

Signing a guy for $2.7M who scores 11 points, shoots 48.5% overall and 43% from 3, and rests one of your most important players is more than some have done for the EOY award. I mean, Brian Colangelo won the award, TWICE, and he's a bum.

[cd021]

Blair was highly overrated; Diaw was an overweight bust for the Cats and Green was cut by the Spurs before he was waived by the Cavs.

Hard to call Blair overrated for how productive he was, while making fewer than $4 million dollars in his time in S.A. Advanced numbers show that he was an above average player in his 4 seasons in S.A (17 P.E.R, .138 WS Per 48 and a Net Rtg of +6) Looking back at that '09 draft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NBA_draft#Draft_lottery) Blair ended up being probably the 10th best player in that draft, despite going 37th. Ironically Daye and Ayers were drafted ahead of him that year and both haven't had the career he's had.

Green was drafted by the Cavs then cut by the Spurs twice before getting a 3rd (or technically 4th shot). Manu broke his hand and TJ Ford got injured, forcing Neal frpm the backup 2 guard to the backup PG. Green went from 3rd string to the starting lineup and played well enough to bring Manu off the bench.

Kind of made my point about Diaw. He was viewed as a bust after a great run in PHX. He was signed and became a starter and eventually became one the best role players in the NBA. It was a small risk that turned into a big success.

[cd021]

Signing a guy for $2.7M who scores 11 points, shoots 48.5% overall and 43% from 3, and rests one of your most important players is more than some have done for the EOY award. I mean, Brian Colangelo won the award, TWICE, and he's a bum.

Sure but when thats your resume for last season, it sounds fairly obvious that it was more of a career achievement award. In a way that makes perfect since because it takes time for draft picks to pan out and free agents to acclimate to the system. In a way he was getting his 11-12 award three seasons later (Trading for KL, re-signing Green, and signing Mills & Diaw late in the season)

[Ice009]

I still recall reading back in the 2007 playoffs when the Spurs were playing the Jazz that Kirilenko had booked a holiday before the series was even over.

That still sticks with me, and if he has that type of mentality (to just give up during a series), then I'm not sure I'd want a player like that on the team.