Talk about a tweener. Offensively AK could not quite shoot well enough to be a really good SF and lacked post skills to be a really good PF. His bad back eventually effected his play on D. But it sounds like he is healthy again. But 82 games is a long season. We will see if he can last.
AK was sneaky though on defense. He has a really good reach and could block shots that you didn't think he would get to.
He was all NBA on D. Could guard 4 positions. It was his injuries that derailed him. Plus he had a max contract and could not stay on the court. We know all about that.
CSKA is not in the NBA (although you could argue they could beat Minnesota in a 7 game series). The schedule is shorter and the competition weaker and less athletic. $20 million/2 years, a former lottery pick and a likely future one. That sure seems like a lot to pay for a guy who will be 32 in February and has been on the decline for years due to injuries. Batum is 8 years younger, better right now, likely to improve and didn't cost us any draft picks. For those who think we overpaid to keep Batum, he's a fucking bargain compared to what the Wolves are giving up to get a past-his-prime tweener. BNM
