Andrei Kirilenko Gets six-year, $86 Million max Contract Extension

Been reported by ESPN insider Chad Ford, the Jazz and Kirilenko have come to terms. I would imagine It won't be long till the deal is offical.

 

I have read conflicting reports on this, but hopefully for Utah's sake it is true. The bloke is just a gem of a player, and a true centrepiece for this franchise to build around. The scary thing is he's only going to get better.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I have read conflicting reports on this, but hopefully for Utah's sake it is true. The bloke is just a gem of a player, and a true centrepiece for this franchise to build around. The scary thing is he's only going to get better.</div>

how very true. andrei has the scary potential to be even better than scottie pippen and i think he will be the next big euro star after dirk nowitzki.

 

Is AK47 worth max money right now?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">Is AK47 worth max money right now?</div>

He probably isn't a max player right now, but in 2 years, he defentially will be. The reason he and his agent is pushing for the max or close to it, is because they could be new CBA rules next season and AK and his agent are wanting to get the most, and who could blame him. But I am glad that we are going to give him what he wants, AK is not only the future of the Jazz but he could be one of the most complete forward in NBA History. Now the only thing I have to tell AK is, your getting the max now don't slack up and play like a MAX player.

 

I hear ya. Thanks. I just wanted to know. I did not think he was worth the max. His situation sounds alot like Jrich's contract situation. He is not asking max money, but is asking Jefferson type money.

 

At the moment I don't think he's worth max money. The only players I believe are worth Max Money are: Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe, KG, Duncan, T-Mac and LeBron James.

I don't really consider AK a huge offensive threat, but he sure is a defensive threat. He's a great all around player. He's like a 5 tool player in baseball comparasion. Is Andrei the guy you want taking the shot to win you a game when you need a basket? Can he still make the game winning shot if he has Shawn Marion or Ron Artest on him?Is he one of the best options in the league to give the ball too? Until those answer are answered as "yes", then I won't give him max money. But at the moment he's close to it.

Just incase you guys say that LeBron James isn't max money at the moment, I have to agree. However, his amazing rookie season and great progress thus far, has already shown me what an amazing player he is and will be. Everybody knows he's gonna get the Max when he's eligable to get a new contract. He's already near max money at the moment like Andrei, and mid-way through the season, he'll be worth the max.

 

Well its no suprise he got the money. The Jazz need him more then he needs the Jazz. Is he worth the max? Of course. K Mart is getting 92 million dollars, Dampier is making 73 million dollars over 7 years when you look at the money these guys are making he does deserve the max. Especially since he's the corner stone of the Jazz team now that Stockton and Malone are gone.

 

I believe that AK is worth a max deal, if not now than damn soon. He's one of the most complete players in the league, and possibly the most complete forward in the league. He's a good scorer, one of the best defensive players in the league, and he's only getting better.

 

He only averages 16.5pts/8rebs per game. IMO a max player is a Kobe, Garnett, Kidd, Duncan, Shaq, ect. You cant tell me AK is as good or even will be as good as some of those guys...

 

I think where most guys are clutch on offense, AK will be clutch on defense. Kirilenko can guard anyone from Kobe to the Garnetts and Duncans, while he may never be as good as them on offense, his defense has all ready passed them. I do think in AK's prime he will be a 20 point per game scorer, yet his defense will always over shawdow his offensive numbers.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">He only averages 16.5pts/8rebs per game. IMO a max player is a Kobe, Garnett, Kidd, Duncan, Shaq, ect. You cant tell me AK is as good or even will be as good as some of those guys...</div>

True, but he also averages 2.8 BPG, 2SPG and 3APG. He was 3rd in the NBA for Blocks per game, and 4th in Steals per game. He also got two 5X5's last season in one week, one in a season is extremely rare from anyone. This from a skinny 6'9" Forward.

He is an young All-Star, and it is great for Utah to of resigned him. It's hard to say how good he will get, but he will be more of a defensive than offensive player. I don't think he's the kind of guy to slack off after receiving the money either, and the Jazz are starting to look like they'll be a dominating force for seasons to come, with Boozer and AK47 around for 6 more seasons :mrgreen: .

 

I agree with spark22 as in Kirilenko is not a max player now but will be in 2 years. Nonetheless, whether he is a max player or not the Jazz shouldn?t feel a little guilty or uneasy about giving him a max contract. I never really had the opportunity to carefully watch Kirelinko perform but from what I heard he's a great player and also from what I've seen against the 76ers and Knicks he's really good. He's a very unorthodox player that can defend, score, rebound, block shots etc. he fills up just about every category on the stat sheet. And again, even though I believe he's not a max player yet, I don't see no reason why he shouldn?t get a max contract. Someone said it best themselves? the Jazz need him more than he needs the Jazz. But hopefully he won't fall off and let the fame get into his head for receiving such a lucrative deal.

 

But how do you give a player a max contract who is not of the caliber of KG, Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, ect?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">But how do you give a player a max contract who is not of the caliber of KG, Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, ect?</div>

The NBA is changing with lesser players getting huge contracts, teams give players max contracts because they basically have no choice, those players threaten to leave where they can get money elsewhere. Most teams spend money just for the sake of it, whats worse is the fact Keith Van Horn will be making more money this year than Tim Duncan.

 

IMO Andrei Kirilenko deserves it, if RJ is making that much and Memo and Boozer get loads too then why shouldnt Andrei? Andrei is a franchise player a perfect guy to build a team around, and I gotta sign this might be the second coming of Scottie Pippen.

 

It's official

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Utah Jazz have signed forward Andrei Kirilenko to a contract extension it was announced today by Jazz owner, Larry H. Miller. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

?Andrei is not only our longest tenured player; he brings toughness and leadership to the team,? said Jazz President, Dennis Haslam. ?We are extremely fortunate to have signed this extension.?</div>

Utah Jazz version

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For all the years he pinched pennies on John Stockton and Karl Malone, it was ludicrous to believe Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller would be the one to throw the free-agent market out of whack, but he did. Just when it appeared sensibility would come into play, he signed Mehmet Okur for $50 million and Carlos Boozer for $68 million. That begot the Denver Nuggets realizing they'd have to offer Kenyon Martin a maximum contract to force a sign-and-trade with New Jersey, which begot a maximum deal for Pau Gasol in Memphis. Of course, that meant the Jazz had to give Andrei Kirilenko a maximum contract, and expect Zach Randolph to get top dollar from the Portland Trail Blazers this weekend.

What it really means: With the collective bargaining agreement up at the end of this season, David Stern and the Board of Governors say they want to shorten the terms of contracts to four years because too many players now out of the league are still getting paid. That's not really the issue. It's to slow down the owners who blow the market out of proportion. All of a sudden, you have these players who have either been All-Stars once or not at all receiving max deals. <font color="Red">It's ludicrous. The maximum players in the league should be Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd and Tracy McGrady</font>. </div>

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/7840374

I'm Glad I'm not the only one that thinks that.

 

The biggest mistake the Jazz made was signing boozer. I dont think he is that good. AK deserves the contract. He has great work ethic, and proved all last season that he could handle the load. I wish the Jazz the best of luck.