[OREGONIAN] AK47 & Sloan butting heads, possibly looking to trade

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1169439948208870.xml&coll=7

Trade talk follows Kirilenko
Monday, January 22, 2007
JASON QUICK
There is growing speculation in Salt Lake City that Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko may be on the trading block as he continues to butt heads with coach Jerry Sloan.

The two have sparred before, but this season it appears to have reached an apex.

Sloan, who has long complained about Kirilenko's work ethic, has once again resorted to taking shots at the Russian forward in the media.

"I don't think he is playing his best basketball," Sloan said. "I don't think he is even close to playing his best basketball."

Kirilenko, meanwhile, says he wants more plays called for him on offense, and doesn't like the notion that he is only a defensive player.

"It's not interesting to play only defense, that's what I want to say," Kirilenko said in response. "If that helps the team win, I'll sacrifice. But the last few games we cannot win and it makes me think about offense as well."

The Jazz (26-14) continue to lead the Northwest Division, but their perimeter defense has become a liability. Already this year, the Jazz have given up four 50-plus point games to opposing guards: Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd, Ray Allen and, most recently, Gilbert Arenas. Usually, the 6-foot-9 Kirilenko is assigned to defend the guards, even though he is a forward by nature.

"I've got Andrei Kirilenko, he's on the All-Defensive team and that was selected by the coaches. I didn't have anything to do with that," Sloan said. "So, I put him on those guys. I put him on a lot of guys. I think he's our best defender. I can't put (Carlos) Boozer or Memo (Okur) on them, we're talking about guards.

"I don't know, maybe I'm crazy. The great players, they bring the ball to you and you have to be able to stand up to that. We haven't done as good a job as I think we're capable of doing. I've talked to Andrei and he wants to handle the ball a little bit more. I don't have a problem with that. He's young and sometimes when young guys have a problem they sometimes think it's something we're doing wrong (as a team). And maybe we are."

This week, after Miami's Dwyane Wade scored 32 points against the Jazz, Kirilenko was once again defending himself.

"It's impossible to stop (the great guards) one-on-one," Kirilenko said. "They have the ball in their hands every time. They have three, four screens set for them. It's impossible to play them one-on-one. All you can do is play the percentage. And if they start getting hot? Man, you should pray."

Kirilenko, who signed a six-year, $86 million contract in 2004, is averaging a career-low 9.0 points to go with 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists. His 2.1 blocks a game are the lowest since his rookie season in 2001.

The bottom line is Kirilenko is making the league-maximum salary, but not putting up top-dollar performances. In fact, he is probably the fourth-best player on the Jazz behind Boozer, Okur and Deron Williams.
______________________

AK47 has gotten injured somewhat the last couple years, but he is a monster when healthy. He's the only player I know (not even J-Kidd or Kobe) capable of putting up a quadruple-double. They're not gonna trade him, but if they looking into it, what would it take?

Juwan + Bonzi + Luther + cash for AK47+2nd rounder? AK47 can really do it all. His only weakness is his occasional tendency to get injured, but that's b/c he plays so damn hard all over the court. I wouldn't want to give up Juwan or Luther considering how well they're playing/how important they are to our future, but AK47 is a world-class athlete and player - and he's still young.
Getting him to play under JVG, along with Yao and Deke, would cement us as a defensive stalwart. Unfortunately, i'm guessing we'd have to separate with Luther, and maybe even Battier, to get it done - in which case, no deal. The predicament is that we have to trade Bonzi before the deadline so that we don't lose him for nothing come the offseason, and Juwan's upped his value enough to where teams will consider his contract almost reasonable. AK47 is a rare talent, and to get good talent, you often have to give up talent - which is why we'll have to give up some Head.

thoughts? suggestions?

let me predict a few:
- Bring back the Random Trade Idea thread!- Here we go again - a team is having a trouble with one of its players/stars, and all of a sudden, he becomes the player the Rockets need. Response - i seriously doubt they'll trade him, but if they're trying to, AK is a couple levels above, say, a Pau Gasol or (ha!) Nazr Mohammed. In fact, I think he's the Dwight Freeney to Vince Carter's Edgerrin James - I'd pick AK47 every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. I'd even take him over KG, assuming Andrei stayed healthy. (Ok, maybe i'm a little crazy.)
- We don't have the pieces to trade with Utah (Edit - I think the current situation is much like the Boozer situation of last year, where everyone was upset with his play/injuries, and were about to unload him for pennies on the dollar, despite his flashes of great play in the past, only for them to keep him, after which he starts flourishing with his newfound health.)
- We won't be able to handle his salary. I agree that it will be a lot, and that it will also kill our plans of adding an elite PG (see B-B-B-B-Billups, Chauncey), but having him alongside Yao & Battier will assure that we'll be a contender in the future regardless of T-Mac's health.
- If we lose Luther, our backcourt will really go to ****: Rafer & TMac, with JL3 and Snyder backing up, and VSpan sitting on the bench b/c of JVG. I have no rebuttal for this point.

 

[OREGONIAN] AK47 & Sloan butting heads - looking to trade?

Note - i initially put this in the NBA Dish, but it might spur some discussion here, so, yeah, sue me.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/o...8870.xml&coll=7

Trade talk follows Kirilenko
Monday, January 22, 2007
JASON QUICK
There is growing speculation in Salt Lake City that Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko may be on the trading block as he continues to butt heads with coach Jerry Sloan.

The two have sparred before, but this season it appears to have reached an apex.

Sloan, who has long complained about Kirilenko's work ethic, has once again resorted to taking shots at the Russian forward in the media.

"I don't think he is playing his best basketball," Sloan said. "I don't think he is even close to playing his best basketball."

Kirilenko, meanwhile, says he wants more plays called for him on offense, and doesn't like the notion that he is only a defensive player.

"It's not interesting to play only defense, that's what I want to say," Kirilenko said in response. "If that helps the team win, I'll sacrifice. But the last few games we cannot win and it makes me think about offense as well."

The Jazz (26-14) continue to lead the Northwest Division, but their perimeter defense has become a liability. Already this year, the Jazz have given up four 50-plus point games to opposing guards: Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd, Ray Allen and, most recently, Gilbert Arenas. Usually, the 6-foot-9 Kirilenko is assigned to defend the guards, even though he is a forward by nature.

"I've got Andrei Kirilenko, he's on the All-Defensive team and that was selected by the coaches. I didn't have anything to do with that," Sloan said. "So, I put him on those guys. I put him on a lot of guys. I think he's our best defender. I can't put (Carlos) Boozer or Memo (Okur) on them, we're talking about guards.

"I don't know, maybe I'm crazy. The great players, they bring the ball to you and you have to be able to stand up to that. We haven't done as good a job as I think we're capable of doing. I've talked to Andrei and he wants to handle the ball a little bit more. I don't have a problem with that. He's young and sometimes when young guys have a problem they sometimes think it's something we're doing wrong (as a team). And maybe we are."

This week, after Miami's Dwyane Wade scored 32 points against the Jazz, Kirilenko was once again defending himself.

"It's impossible to stop (the great guards) one-on-one," Kirilenko said. "They have the ball in their hands every time. They have three, four screens set for them. It's impossible to play them one-on-one. All you can do is play the percentage. And if they start getting hot? Man, you should pray."

Kirilenko, who signed a six-year, $86 million contract in 2004, is averaging a career-low 9.0 points to go with 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists. His 2.1 blocks a game are the lowest since his rookie season in 2001.

The bottom line is Kirilenko is making the league-maximum salary, but not putting up top-dollar performances. In fact, he is probably the fourth-best player on the Jazz behind Boozer, Okur and Deron Williams.
______________________

AK47 has gotten injured somewhat the last couple years, but he is a monster when healthy. He's the only player I know (not even J-Kidd or Kobe) capable of putting up a quadruple-double. They're not gonna trade him, but if they're looking into it, what would it take?

Juwan + Bonzi + Luther + cash for AK47+2nd rounder? AK47 can really do it all. His only weakness is his occasional tendency to get injured, but that's b/c he plays so damn hard all over the court. I wouldn't want to give up Juwan or Luther considering how well they're playing/how important they are to our future, but AK47 is a world-class athlete and player - and he's still young.
Getting him to play under JVG, along with Yao and Deke, would cement us as a defensive stalwart. Unfortunately, i'm guessing we'd have to separate with Luther, and maybe even Battier, to get it done - in which case, no deal. The predicament is that we have to trade Bonzi before the deadline so that we don't lose him for nothing come the offseason, and Juwan's upped his value enough to where teams will consider his contract almost reasonable. AK47 is a rare talent, and to get good talent, you often have to give up talent - which is why we'll have to give up some Head.

thoughts? suggestions?

let me predict a few:
- Bring back the Random Trade Idea thread!
- Here we go again - a team is having a trouble with one of its players/stars, and all of a sudden, he becomes the player the Rockets need. Response - i seriously doubt they'll trade him, but if they're trying to, AK is a couple levels above, say, a Pau Gasol or (ha!) Nazr Mohammed. In fact, I think he's the Dwight Freeney to Vince Carter's Edgerrin James - I'd pick AK47 every day of the week, and twice on Sunday. I'd even take him over KG, assuming Andrei stayed healthy. (Ok, maybe i'm a little crazy.)
- We don't have the pieces to trade with Utah (Edit - I think the current situation is much like the Boozer situation of last year, where everyone was upset with his play/injuries, and were about to unload him for pennies on the dollar, despite his flashes of great play in the past, only for them to keep him, after which he starts flourishing with his newfound health.)
- We won't be able to handle his salary. Re: I agree that it will be a lot, and that it will also kill our plans of adding an elite PG (see B-B-B-B-Billups, Chauncey), but having him alongside Yao & Battier will assure that we'll be a contender in the future regardless of T-Mac's health.
- If we lose Luther, our backcourt will really go to ****: Rafer & TMac, with JL3 and Snyder backing up, and VSpan sitting on the bench b/c of JVG. I have no rebuttal for this point.

 

Kaleidosky and Jebus -
I agree with y'all. After i read the article, all i could think about was Artest. But another impression i got from the article was that he was upset mainly b/c they're losing, and was upset about the lack of effort on the offensive end. he's a capable shooter and slasher, but he's never been one to totally dominate a game offensively (this year, or in the past), and he's almost never been a go-to guy. i don't necessarily think that's what he wants.

i think his frustration is mostly due to their fall from heaven after that 12-1 start or whatever it was. i remember reading somewhere last week that they'd gone 12-12 since their 12-1 start. considering how upset we were after that Denver loss, i can't imagine how glum they must feel in Utah in the weeks following their torrid start.

i feel he's a player that would readily accept playing behind Yao and Mac, and would cherish the attention that JVG would shower him with. he's almost like Battier except that he 1) draws less charges, 2) blocks hella more shots, and 3) is Russian.

i also think that he's gettable right now, when his stock is low. if you switched Snyder with Bonzi, the deal would be something like: Juwan, Luther, Snyder, and Cash for AK47.
- all of our players are good citizens,
- Juwan would give them a capable back-up behind Boozer
- Snyder would give them a [familiar] serviceable 3 to fill-in for Kirilenko.
- Luther would sway them into making the deal.

that, of course, would mean that we'd have:

5- Yao, Deke
4- AK47/Battier, Chucky
3- Battier/TMac, Bonzi
2- TMac, Bonzi
1- Rafer, JL3, Poor VSpan

our depth/bench would suck, but our starting line-up would be dominant. with a rotation that small, however, our starters would have to put in a lot of minutes, and would get tired --> leading to more injuries.

[sigh] you're right, no chance of a deal here.