Sacramento Kings Need to Sign Andrei Kirilenko

On the heels of re-signing super scorer Marcus Thornton and adding the defensive-minded Chuck Hayes to the lineup, there have been reports from the Sacramento Bee that the Kings are pursuing Andrei Kirilenko.  

Kirilenko was vastly overpaid and often injured during his tenure in Utah, but for the right price, he could provide the Kings with what they need.  

The Kings need a small forward who does not need the ball and can play solid defense, and Kirilenko would be perfect on this Kings roster that people call the “Black Hole.” 

Coach Westphal has already named his starting lineup of Thornton, Evans, Salmons, Cousins and Hayes. Currently Hayes is the only one that can play defense, while the others are still learning. Insert Kirilenko into the starting lineup and the Kings have two guys that can play great help defense, solid man to man, and do not need the ball on offense.  

Relegating Salmons to the bench as a reserve would also give the Kings one of the best benches in the league with Jimmer Fredette, J.J. Hickson, Jason Thompson and Francisco Garcia coming in to give the starters relief.  

I already believe the Kings have a chance to grab the eighth seed in the West with this current lineup, but with Kirilenko added to the mix, I believe this team would definitely make it into the playoffs.  

Kirilenko would also give this team a playoff pedigree and a veteran presence that they lack. 

He is currently playing in his home country for CSKA Moscow, and has a 30-day opt-out clause to sign with an NBA team. The good thing about this signing would be that he wants to play for the small-market Sacramento Kings, whereas most of the known players don’t.   

At 30 years old, Kirilenko is still relatively young and he uses his length very well on the defensive end. GM Geoff Petrie should offer Kirilenko a two-year, $12 million contract, as it would give the Kings a great piece in the starting lineup as they look for a younger small forward that they can develop for the future. 

Petrie needs to work his magic and bring in the talented small forward, as this young team needs a player of his caliber. The city of Sacramento desperately needs Andrei Kirilenko.

Sacramento has also been a great home for foreign players such as Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic. The two have been known to love the city as there is a large Eastern European community. As Kirilenko and wife are widely regarded as superstars in Russia, they would also be the same in Sacramento.

The Kings are moving in the right direction with their draft picks, current signings and a push for a new arena. What this city needs is a winning product once again, and by signing Andrei Kirilenko, I believe that he would be the key piece that can bring everything together.