This is for all you Kirilenko lovers out there... http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595098139,00.html Jazz, Andrei talks 'far apart' Team, Kirilenko's agent disagree on forward's value By Tim Buckley Deseret Morning News Contract extension negotiations between the Jazz and the agent for All-Star Andrei Kirilenko have taken a turn for the worse. "We're far apart on what we both see his value as being, and I'm not optimistic at the moment," said agent Marc Fleisher, who left with no deal in hand after coming to Salt Lake City for a face-to-face meeting with Jazz basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor. "We met (Tuesday) night," Fleisher added Wednesday afternoon, "and I think there's a big disparity in what we see as Andrei's value." The deadline for agreeing to an extension before this season is Oct. 31, and Fleisher said it is possible things can change before then. But Kirilenko's side is standing firm on its demand for Pau Gasol money, meaning an extension just like the six-year, roughly $86 million deal Memphis recently gave to its big man from Spain. The Jazz apparently are offering much less to their forward from Russia — perhaps even less than $76 million over six seasons that, as of last week, they were believed to be willing to pay. "I think we believe Andrei is in the same class as Pau Gasol," said Fleisher, who got deals done with O'Connor for both big man Mehmet Okur (six years, $50 million) and shooting guard Gordan Giricek (four years, $16 million) this past summer. "In fact, Andrei was selected over Pau Gasol as an All-Star (last season)," Fleisher added. "And the Jazz don't see it that way." O'Connor did not return phone messages left Wednesday. It should come as no great surprise that Kirilenko's camp is using the Gasol deal as a gauge, since that is a max-money rookie-contract extension under terms of the current collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players association. This season, Kirilenko will earn $1.67 million — a far cry from what's in store. "We believe that the market value for Andrei has been determined apart from us — meaning we didn't determine it, and nor did the Jazz," said Fleisher, who planned to return to his Connecticut office to deal with other client issues. "It's been determined for us, and we believe, and most people around the league feel, that Andrei is deserving of the sort of money Gasol got." Fleisher said he and Kirilenko are adamant about that, and that they're willing to forgo the financial security that comes with signing an extension now in order to enter the NBA's free-agency market as a restricted free agent season. There are pros and cons for both sides if that were to happen, but Fleisher suggested that is what will happen if that is what it takes for Kirilenko to be adequately compensated. "Absolutely," Fleisher said. "Andrei would like to get something done now," he added, "but, if not now, we believe there are a lot of teams out there that will believe his market value is as we see it." Even if another team were to sign Kirilenko to an offer sheet next summer, the Jazz would have the opportunity to match. They'd have to do so, however, under terms established by another franchise — meaning the possibility of dealing with a heavily front-loaded contract that can be avoided by coming to terms now. Kirilenko, for his part, has been relatively mum on the issue. The 23-year-old said last week he was "a little unhappy" that Gasol's extension was done before training camp opened and his was not, but he later expressed hope that a deal would be struck. Jazz owner Larry H. Miller, too, has said the team would like to extend Kirilenko this month — and that it "makes sense for both sides." Miller, though, also said it would require a degree of compromise from both sides to reach an accord. Fleisher, seemingly unwilling to budge, isn't buying it. "I read where Larry said (last week) he is '90 percent sure' this is gonna get done," the agent said. "I'm nowhere near that optimistic." E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
While I agree that Andrei is more valuable than Gasol, I'm not sure he's a max player. I'm sure he wants his money and thinks that he's being disrespected by the Jazz organization here. What teams will have money under the cap to sign Kirilenko to the max type deal he's seeking next offseason? I'd love to see this guy sign with a larger market team, because I think he is a fun player to watch that would get well deserved media attention if he played outside of Utah. Regardless of whether Andrei is a max player, he's still damn good and I hope that he gets paid.
He's a max player. But Boki is the next Peja. Houston trades: SF Bostjan Nachbar (3.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg in 11.5 minutes) Houston receives: SF Andrei Kirilenko (16.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.1 apg in 37.1 minutes) Change in team outlook: +13.4 ppg, +6.5 rpg, and +2.4 apg. Utah trades: SF Andrei Kirilenko (16.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.1 apg in 37.1 minutes) Utah receives: SF Bostjan Nachbar (3.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg in 45 games) Change in team outlook: -13.4 ppg, -6.5 rpg, and -2.4 apg. TRADE ACCEPTED Due to Houston being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Houston had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Thanks. Carry on .
he's more talented defensively than gasol but probably not offensively. i'd still defintely take him over pau. i don't really think either are max players but considering what gasol got and how crazy these gm's are spending money i guess andrei's agent has a point.
What argument do you base on? statistics? 16.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.1 apg in 37.1 minutes that's pretty impressive. games? He's really versatile on both ends, imo. He definitely deserves a contract Pau Gasol got, if something hinders, that only because he was drafted in 24th(1st round) overall in 1999.
AK47 plays in a motion offense where his shots come mainly from the system and solid passing by his teammates. He can't create his own shot like Gasol can. His perimeter shooting is also a lot worse. From the Jazz's standpoint, there's almost no reason to sign him this early. They can simply wait til next year to sign him or match an offer sheet, w/o running the risk of him getting a big injury this year.
I'm thinking the Jazz are hoping to resign him after the CBA is renegotiated. It's been said that the owners are pushing for lower max contracts, and contracts with shorter terms in general.
You know what really pisses me off, though? Boki probably COULD become a great player in Sloan's system. That b*stard always seems to make bad players good. Sorry, I didn't mean to say that Boki is bad. He just plays that way sometimes.
Yeah, but... I don't know... I don't think I would be able to sleep at night seeing his Skeletor face every game...
Sorry, but Kirilenko is no max player and is among the most overrated players in the game. Offensively, he isn't even half the player Gasol is. Kirilenko is a tremendous fantasy player - he'll get you rebounds, steals, and blocks, in essence a great team defender. Don't expect him to shut anyone down one on one like Ron Artest. Offensively, he's simply the latest in a long line of players who have thrived in Jerry Sloan's motion offense (Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley). He can't create his own shot much less create for others. Put him on any other team in the league and he becomes exposed for what he is - a tremendous role player. That's no knock against Kirilenko as I'de love to have him on my team. He's a tremendous role player. Don't expect him to carry a team though.
well i base it on the real world. gasol has a very good post up game and can create his own shot at any time on any place on the floor. andrei has almost no post-up game and while obviously he has the ability to score, he relies alot more on collecting points off hustle and teammates setting him up.
don't know if he's worth the max but every time i see him play i am simply amazed at how many ways he contributes on both ends of the court. i don't want to get into semantics and the whole role player/star debate but tremendous role player equal tremendous player in my book.
