Utah Jazz Blog makes a pretty startling claim this morning: that Andrei Kirilenko is the new Jordan. No, not that AK-47 is set to dominate the game for a decade. Instead, he's thinking that it's Kirilenko who will spoil this new Jazz golden age by keeping them from the Finals: Let me give you a short list of guys this year who are making between $15,000,000 and $17,000,000:He does have a point. For some reason, I've been obsessed this week with the future of Rashard Lewis; like Kirilenko, he's a tantalizing, multi-talented player who could end up with a max-ish contract over the summer. But whoever signs him would do well to take a look at the Jazz, who have put together a powerhouse around AK-and now might be better off if they had never signed him.
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Michael Redd, Elton Brand, Ray Allen, Shawn Marion, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitski, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Tracy McGrady, and Joe Johnson.
Can you imagine what the Jazz would be with one of these guys? With one of these players would the Jazz be a championship team? The answer is undoubtedly, yes! I'm sorry Jazz fans but with AK's salary I don't know if the Jazz will win a championship.
It's an interesting lesson for rebuilding teams, too. Namely, don't be afraid to let your best player walk if he's not a true franchise guy, or at least a consistent All-Star. This might be terrible public relations, but so will having your hands tied with a massive, inessential contract.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-08-2007 @ 1:07PM
nate said...
A team like the Mavs, the Lakers, or the Knicks that can afford to overpay for players would be very happy with a guy like AK-47. The problem with AK is that the Jazz filled up their roster with so many good players. By the time Boozer, Williams, and Okur get their shots there is nothing left for AK. Put him on the Lakers, who desperately need another do it all type player and you'd probably think he's a better player than what he currently looks like on the Jazz. And anyhow, it's the Jazz's fault for overpaying for AK. If they though he wasn't worth that, they should have either tried to sign him for less or they should have let him walk.
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4-08-2007 @ 5:06PM
evan said...
I saw the Jazz in town against the Magic last month and AK looked completely lost on offense. Boozer and Okur play pretty far from the basket on offense and Williams is setting the plays for himself and them mostly.
Kirilenko had it better when there was a specific, classic center that he could play around running off screens. He needs to be traded to a team that could use one of the few guys capable of a consistent 5x5 night.
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4-21-2007 @ 7:00PM
rick said...
Kirilenko is a good player but plays are not run for him. Sloan needs to find a way to get Kirilenko into the offensive scheme. When Kirilenko is energized on both ends of the floor, he is a KEY player for the Jazz to make a run in the playoffs. I hope they do not trade Kirilenko unless they get a very special player. Andrea is just trying to find a way to fit into this system as the 4th option.
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