JAZZ: Andrei Kirilenko demands trade

[ducks]

JAZZ: Andrei Kirilenko demands trade
By Ross Siler and Michael Nakoryakov
The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:09/18/2007 09:10:58 PM MDT

Posted: 9:12 PM- With the Jazz set to report to training camp in less than two weeks, Andrei Kirilenko's summer of discontent apparently came full circle Tuesday in the form of a trade demand that echoed in Russian and English.
Barely 48 hours after leading Russia to gold at the European championships in Spain, Kirilenko wrote in a blog post on the Russian Web site Sport Today that he was ready to leave Utah after six seasons.
"In a week, I need to join the Utah Jazz again, but quite frankly, I'm not really happy about that," wrote Kirilenko, who was named MVP of the EuroBasket tournament. "The past season was bad for me and I was really disappointed.
"I've thought about it a lot and I came to a decision. I want to leave Utah Jazz. The European championships that just ended became sort of a test for me and now I think I know what I want to do."
The blog post was translated by a member of Tribune staff.
The Jazz would face large obstacles in trying to trade Kirilenko, their highest-paid player owed $63 million on his contract through the 2010-11 season. They also face untold distractions as they open the season trying to build off a conference finals appearance.
Kirilenko also revealed that he approached Kevin O'Connor, the Jazz's senior vice president of basketball operations, a few weeks ago and asked to be traded. O'Connor did not return multiple messages Tuesday night.
" 'I told him that I don't see myself in the team and want to leave," Kirilenko wrote. "Quite clearly, Utah and me see my place and role in the team differently. I don't want myself and my contract to be a burden for the club. I want the club to continue in its own direction."
"It's their choice. I have only one request: Let me, myself, go in the direction I want to go. I don't want to be there and mechanically fulfill a contract."
A source close to Kirilenko said he did not believe such a conversation with O'Connor took place. But Kirilenko wrote that he hadn't heard anything back from O'Connor or the organization in a week, which he took as a sign of disrespect.
"There's no response negative or positive and this silence is just one more evidence of the way they treat me," Kirilenko wrote. "Nevertheless, I'm really hopeful that Utah Jazz leadership will understand that our relationship is over and it's time for us to part ways."
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_6931935

[ducks]

The good news for the Utah Jazz is that after a shaky 2006-07 NBA campaign, Andrei Kirilenko had a strong offseason. He recently led Russia to the European Championship held in Spain. But the bad news for the Jazz, apparently, is that the 6-foot-9 forward no longer wants to play in Utah.<p>
Kirilenko made it clear in a blog entry on a Russian Web site on Tuesday that he no longer wants to be a member of the Jazz.
In the blog post written in Russian on Sport Today, Kirilenko wrote about his general unhappiness playing in Jazz coach Jerry Sloan's system and of his disappointment in his role last season. Kirilenko averaged 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds a year ago — down from his career averages of 12.9 points and 6.2 boards.
According to an online translation, Kirilenko called coach Jerry Sloan a "legend". But he wrote that for him, Sloan's "style and system is not suitable.
Kirilenko indicated that he has voiced his desire to be traded to Jazz vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor.
O'Connor, contacted Tuesday night by KSL-TV, had no comment on Kirilenko's blog entry.
Trading Kirilenko would not be easy since he is a "max-money" player whose contract runs through the 2010-11 season. His play in the European championships, however, may increase his trade value
With or without Kirilenko, the Jazz will open training camp in Boise on Oct.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695211399,00.html

[Obstructed_View]

LEAVE ANDREI ALONE!!!

[sa_butta]

When asked what will happen if he doesnt get traded

"Ill break you."

[zeleni]

Would Kirilenko work in SA? I would love him as a Spur! I would love him even in Boston!

[BeerIsGood!]

Would Kirilenko work in SA? I would love him as a Spur! I would love him even in Boston!

If you traded TP, Manu, and Duncan for him the money might be close to being right. You want to do that?

[BeerIsGood!]

All I know is if a team is paying me $63 million dollars over a few years to play for them the least I could do is work my ass off, don't cry like a baby, and don't go making trade demands, especially in the media. This guy is reaching an Alex Rodriguez level of spoiled.

[FromWayDowntown]

I'm not sure that too many teams are going to be really anxious to take on a big contract for a guy who shrinks in crunch time, whose offensive game is limited and basically ineffective if he's not getting to the rim, who hasn't been consistently healthy in the last three years, who's a pouter, and whose numbers were really good only on teams that weren't very good. Kirilenko has a lot of talent, but I'm not sure that it warrants a contract averaging 15.5 per.

[ducks]

mavs will make a run at him

cuban has to get back in the news

[Supergirl]

Players demanding trades is getting out of hand.

Don't these guys realize they're EMPLOYEES? If they did this at any other job, they'd be fired. If it works for the jazz to unload him do it - he's deadweight to them anyway. but if I were the Jazz I wouldn't break my neck trying to do it. He's an employee. He's required to show up for work and do what he's told by his boss - the coach - and if he doesn't or if he makes life difficult for his co-workers (the other players) he should be sent home without pay.

[Dirk Nowitzki]

mavs will make a run at him

cuban has to get back in the news

THAT! I dont want an overrated piece of who blows at defense on my team. I would rather have Webber!!

[FromWayDowntown]

Players demanding trades is getting out of hand.

Don't these guys realize they're EMPLOYEES? If they did this at any other job, they'd be fired. If it works for the jazz to unload him do it - he's deadweight to them anyway. but if I were the Jazz I wouldn't break my neck trying to do it. He's an employee. He's required to show up for work and do what he's told by his boss - the coach - and if he doesn't or if he makes life difficult for his co-workers (the other players) he should be sent home without pay.

It's not quite that simple. Teams can't just fire players without any consequences to themselves. Aside from making a talented player available to the rest of the league, which is a significant cost in a business with a shallow pool of available employees, the team will either have to pay a substantial payout to the guy to terminate the contract early (costing the team cash now) or will have to continue having his contract count against the salary cap while the player moves along to another team (costing the team teh ability to acquire other players down the road).

Using real world work analogies is tempting, but I think that it's ultimately improper when thinking about NBA employment. With guaranteed contracts, it is frequently true that the employees actually have the employers over a barrel.

[FromWayDowntown]

THAT! I dont want an overrated piece of who blows at defense on my team.

You rang?

[Dirk Nowitzki]

You rang?

I know Dirk cant play defense if his life depended on it. I am just saying I dont want a guy who cant stay in front of his man. Relying on our interior to save AK isnt really a good idea. It will allow teams to attack inside on us especially at Dirk.

[mavs>spurs2]

You rang?

Dirk can at least lead his team to the finals. Kirilenko couldn't even handle a starter's role on a Jazz team that couldn't get past the WCF, he was reduced to the bench and cried about it.

[Summers]

mavs will make a run at him

cuban has to get back in the news

I see a Knicks uni in his future.

[ajh18]

There is a certain amount of irony in saying that you don't want "an overrated piece of who blows at defense on my team" and then saying you want chris webber....

[Summers]

I'm not sure that too many teams are going to be really anxious to take on a big contract for a guy who shrinks in crunch time, whose offensive game is limited and basically ineffective if he's not getting to the rim, who hasn't been consistently healthy in the last three years, who's a pouter, and whose numbers were really good only on teams that weren't very good. Kirilenko has a lot of talent, but I'm not sure that it warrants a contract averaging 15.5 per.

That's what I was thinking! He wins the Euro championship and he thinks he's too good for Utah? Maybe there's something else behind the scenes, but it sounds whiny.

[Dirk Nowitzki]

There is a certain amount of irony in saying that you don't want "an overrated piece of who blows at defense on my team" and then saying you want chris webber....

Webber would be so much cheaper and would fill up a nice role backing up Dirk. It also gives us another scorer off the bench. AK is a perimeter player with a bloated contract, ty defense, and very inconsistent offense.

[Bruno]

Kirilenko could be a great fit in SA but I doubt Holt is ready to spend that much money.

[barbacoataco]

There was a rumour of a Suns trade involving Marion for Kirilenko. Personally I think the Suns would be crazy to make that trade. They are both complainers, but Marion is more talented.

[MoSpur]

Send him to Portland.

Calling Tlong.

[thispego]

Webber would be so much cheaper and would fill up a nice role backing up Dirk. It also gives us another scorer off the bench. AK is a perimeter player with a bloated contract, ty defense, and very inconsistent offense.

ehh, kirilenko has ty defense? wroooooooooooooooooooooooong

[AFBlue]

THAT! I dont want an overrated piece of who blows at defense on my team. I would rather have Webber!!

Actually, Kirilenko is very good at defense.

He's not GREAT at any one thing, but he is very good at almost everything. He'll get you a decent number of blocks, steals, rebounds, assists, and points.

He's also just won the Euro championships and probably regained some of his confidence/edge. Add to all that, his versatility to play three positions on the floor (2, 3, 4) and you've got a decent player.

Is he worth max-type money? No, but if he's healthy and confident he'll make your team MUCH better.

I see a potential deal with Jason Terry as the foundation of the trade on the other side. Dallas has to give the job to Harris someday after they just agreed to pay him $8M/yr and Utah is still probably looking for that Derek Fisher replacement.

Bottom Line: Andrei Kirilenko could be a VERY good acquisition for any club that decides he's worth overpaying, to put them over the top.

[AFBlue]

P.S. The Spurs will NOT be one of those overpaying teams...