Would the Jazz want Kirilenko?

[Harambe]

I don't want AK teaching, mentoring, giving advice of any kind, clapping for, or even pats on the back to our young guys. I could see AK on a veteran team, but not a young impressionable one. Holy **** the idea of Al and AK as veteran locker room leaders makes me want to cut my **** off before watching that train wreck.

If you're talking about him being a savior, or a rock to build on.. that sounds kind of.. well, dumb.

But to overlook what he can actually bring back to the team just because you're butt hurt about us giving him a max contract and not getting max player out of it, well..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ViF6JRNjTk

Fact: When he was on the court, he was contributing.
Working that to our advantage: Put him with the second unit to help STABILIZE(not lead, just stabilize)

Fact: He'll never be able to shoot the NBA three
Working that to our advantage: Slash and kick out to two specialists that can. He's a great passer.

Fact: When he was on the court, we were a better team.
Working that to our advantage: Cheap.. makes others better.. huh.

Fact: He's not a leader
Working that to our advantage: Find a leader that isn't him, and make sure he knows when signing him he's just glue

Fact: He was in the runnings for defensive player of the year for quite a few years
Working that to our advantage: Helps our team with blocks, and now that we have someone with a high bbiq, maybe that wing can learn something. Chucker James could sit in a room watching tapes of the greats 12 hours a day and not learn anything

Fact: His body dictates that he not be depended on for 30 minutes a game
Working that to our advantage: we don't need 30 minutes a game. If we can get him to keep our second unit stable for 20 minutes a game, that's more than enough.

Even his weaknesses we can make work for us. Not offering him something on the cheap would be a mistake. So we gave the guy a max contract and he wasn't worth it. Our fault or his? Is it really impossible to think that the Jazz front office is to blame for that? I maintain, save getting someone fresh that could be a finisher and WANTS to play here, signing AK at the vet minimum on a short term contract is the most fiscally responsible move we could make.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Ummm, I said he could be good for the right team, just not a super young one, with no leadership, like this one. Never said he was hot trash .. just don't want him on this young team. Let me know if you'd like me to say it another way, roacho.

 

[Harambe]

Ummm, I said he could be good for the right team, just not a super young one, with no leadership, like this one. Never said he was hot trash .. just don't want him on this young team. Let me know if you'd like me to say it another way, roacho.

A french accent, please.

And then again in mandarin Chinese.

 

[Harambe]

Ummm, I said he could be good for the right team, just not a super young one, with no leadership, like this one. Never said he was hot trash .. just don't want him on this young team. Let me know if you'd like me to say it another way, roacho.

But as much as I complain about not having a finisher, I think your request for a defined leader is probably more important.

 

[Bronco70]

Would putting AK into the mix, as currently constituted, make us better?

I submit that it would not. I envision him contributing pretty much like Miles, only much more old and broken.

Beating up on lower tier players in Europe is a far cry from trying to keep up with younger, stronger, faster NBA players.

I liked AK, when he was here (contract aside), but he never, ever, ever showed us anything that looked like leadership.

 

[bigmike]

You guys are throwing the baby out with the bath water.

AK is not a leader. He is not a stellar 3-point shooter. And yes, he will likely miss short stretches of the season with nagging injures.

These things notwithstanding, us bringing him back is not an indication that we're looking for him to be any of those things. There are a lot of things that he can do, especially when he's utilized in the right way (IMO, a backup 4 with spot minutes at the 3).

He’s still a weapon defensively with his length and quickness, especially if he’s used at the 4 and plays around the basket. He can get you 8-12 points per game pretty seamlessly within the offense by way of putbacks, coming off of curl screens, and at the foul line, and doesn’t need to dominate the ball to do so. He is a capable shooter, if not a great one…good enough to avoid the Ronnie Brewer treatment. And I believe he is definitely an upgrade over CJ, Carroll, and Raja, guys who all got way more burn at the 3 spot this season than they should have.

To say we should never bring him back because he is not a “leader” or doesn’t stroke the 3-ball is asinine - he would never be intended to fill either role on the team. Assuming that Al and Millsap are only together on this roster for another full season at most, we’re going to have backup PF/SF minutes available in the near future. AK wouldn’t be the only option – we could use a stretch 4 who can really shoot the 3 – but his services would fill a need. Even with the emergence of Favors, we could use a boost with our interior D. Kanter is a few years away from being a defensive menace.

Don’t bring him back to lead the squad. Don’t bring him back to be our 3-point answer. Bring him back to play his game – come off the bench for 20-25 minutes a night, be a disruptive presence defensively, and get you 10 points a night. At $3M - $4M per season, he would be a bargain.

 

[infection]

The quicker we can shake the notion that he's a defender and a ball handler, the quicker we can stop using those as justification for all his other glaring problems.

 

[bigmike]

The quicker we can shake the notion that he's a defender and a ball handler, the quicker we can stop using those as justification for all his other glaring problems.

He's not a good defender on the perimeter. He IS around the basket.

He's a guy with really unique skills/abilities. If they're used incorrectly, he's a liability.

Though he is a rather deft interior passer for a 4-man.

 

[write4u]

To say that AK is not a good defender is sheer ignorance. Like Big Mike said, he is a great interior defender. He also is a great help defender, probably one of the best in the NBA during his years with the Jazz. Because of his length he makes many deflections and I think he led the Jazz in that category, unofficially, every year, from what broadcasters reported. He also has been great at making steals during clutch situations. Not a defender? Is this why he was DPOY in the Euroleague?

No, because of his high dribble and exposure of the ball, he's not the best option for bringing the ball up the court, but he is one of the best passing bigs in basketball without a doubt, so if you include passing in the category, ball-handling, I think you have to say he is a good ball-handler.

 

[TheSilencer1313]

Nothing with AK is solid. Nothing.

Idiotic statement....... that is all.

 

[TheSilencer1313]

Funny how most of the posters around here scoff at signing Kirilenko...... while most GM's with a decent team will definitely be looking at him.
Lol

 

[vslice02]

I'm not an AK-hater by any means and I do think he could help the team - but big picture I don't think he helps the franchise for these 5 reasons:
1.) 31-years old (he actually has been playing professionally for 16 years) so he's a wing player who relies on athleticism on the downside of his career
2.) He doesn't solve the team's issues with floor-spacing and perimeter shooting
3.) He's a gambler defensively which creates highlight plays but also leaves you vulnerable - and it's hard to develop consistency in a defensive system when one guy constantly free-lances.
4.) Has alot of experience but doesn't bring a strong leadership presence to the huddle or in the lockerroom
5.) Injury-prone and not the type of player who will bring a physical-presence that can rub off on his teammates.

I think the Jazz definitely need to sign/acquire a veteran wing player, but I want someone who can atleast satisfy a couple of the points I've listed above.