5 Reasons Why Andrei Kirilenko Will Not Be In Utah Next Season
Note: Andrei Kirilenko of Russia was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 24th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. However, Kirilenko did not make his Jazz debut until the 2001 NBA season. Kirilenko signed a six-year, $86M dollar extension with the Jazz just before the 2004-05 NBA season started. When the contract expires after the 2010-11 NBA season, he will be an unrestricted free agent.
Andrei Kirilenko is a player that is not going to put up a lot of points. He is going to give you a little bit of everything-points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots, and steals. He has set records in the NBA for being able to contribute from multiple angles (having at least five in each of the categories mentioned earlier) in the same game.
Andrei Kirilenko is an unrestricted free agent and depending on how and when the NBA lockout is resolved, the Utah Jazz will have a chance to re-sign the Russian who has spent the past ten seasons with the club.
Even though, there were some highs and lows during that ten-year span, Kirilenko is still a valuable free agent and will be able to contribute to whichever team he decides to join for the 2011-12 NBA season.
Here are the five reasons why Andrei Kirilenko will not be in Utah next season.
5 Reasons Why Andrei Kirilenko Will Not Be in Utah Next Season
1 of 5Reason Number One: The Development of Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors
Note: This reason is based on the assumption below.
Future Utah Jazz Starting Lineup:
Center-Enes Kanter
Power Forward- Derrick Favors
Small Forward-C.J. Miles
Shooting Guard-Gordon Hayward
Point Guard-Alec Burks
Bench: Paul Millsap (possibly), Jeremy Evans
Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors appear to be two pieces to the future of the Utah Jazz. Towards the end of the 2010-11 NBA Season, the duo started to play better and the only way they get better is to play more minutes.
Now, if they were to play more minutes, it could mean that other players may not be getting as many minutes as they used to. Kirilenko could possibly not be re-signed due to this very reason, if the Jazz decide to go in that particular direction.
Other veteran players on the Jazz roster like Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Devin Harris, and Mehmet Okur could also slowly see their playing time dwindle as the Jazz find/acquire pieces that they believe will be a part of their future.
5 Reasons Why Andrei Kirilenko Will Not Be in Utah Next Season
2 of 5Reason Number Two: The NBA Free-Agent Market
It is highly unlikely that Kirilenko will sign another long-term contract with a team during free agency, but signing a two or three-year seems likely.
Even though the current lockout will most likely determine what type of contracts players can sign, it is still not clear how it will affect each of the thirty NBA teams.
One team that could show interest in him would be the New Jersey Nets due to their Russian owner and also the possibility of re-uniting with point guard Deron Williams who was dealt to the Nets from Utah back in February 2011.
5 Reasons Why Andrei Kirilenko Will Not Be in Utah Next Season
3 of 5Reason Number Three: The Overseas Basketball Market
Kirilenko is currently and has in the past represented his native Russian basketball during the Olympics and other tournaments when allowed to.
He has mentioned that signing a deal with a Russian and/or other European team as a possibility when he becomes a free agent.
Teams such as PBC CSKA Moscow and BC Khimki, would be possibilities along with other teams throughout Europe.
Usually European teams offer decent contracts and the contracts would be greater than what that player would be or possibly could be earning in the NBA. Whether Kirilenko will seriously look into offers in this market is still to be seen.
5 Reasons Why Andrei Kirilenko Will Not Be in Utah Next Season
4 of 5Reason Number Four: Injuries during first long-term contract (2004-2011)
Andrei Kirilenko’s PPG during the past six years with the Utah Jazz:
SEASON PPG
2004-05 15.6
2005-06 15.3
2006-07 8.3
2007-08 11.0
2008-09 11.6
2009-10 11.9
2010-11 11.7
Kirilenko was the best player remaining on the Jazz after John Stockton retired, and Karl Malone signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He signed a six-year extension with the team in 2004, but during the 2004-05 season, he missed half of the season due to a broken wrist and the Jazz barely missed the postseason.
In the midst of the 2006-07 season, Kirilenko had his famous public meltdown where he said that he was willing to give up the remainder of his contract in order to play basketball overseas and move away from the NBA.
Kirilenko also clashed with then Head Coach Jerry Sloan, and this came out during the 2006-07 season when Andrei spoke with reporters after a loss where he struggled mightily. He said that he felt that if the Jazz do not want him, they should move him.
However, he worked harder in practice, and his play eventually improved causing the trade talk to disappear and things quieted down for the most part between Andrei and Head Coach Jerry Sloan.
5 Reasons Why Andrei Kirilenko Will Not Be in Utah Next Season
5 of 5Reason Number Five: Is it time for a Change?
Should the Utah Jazz look to rebuild with their younger players?
I would say that they should keep some of their veteran players on their roster going forward, but have their young players play decent minutes in order to pick up some quality “experience”.
The Jazz do have a nice core of young players to work with and they can decide to move some of their veteran players if they choose to do so.
Andrei Kirilenko has spent his entire NBA career so far with the Utah Jazz, and that does not mean that he should spend their remainder of basketball career with them.
Especially in this day and age, sometimes making a change can lead to bigger and better things.
If Kirilenko decides not to return to the Jazz, he will be missed by some, but it will not be “the end of the world” as he can sign elsewhere in order to join a possible contender. His next decision should be one that he feels is the best for his family and himself.
