AK-47 wants out

They (Utah) need Andrei more than he needs them. I mean that he will find another team that is good for him easier than Utah find somebody who will replace Andrei. I do not want to advocate him but .... Their shooting and scoring stars are all slow and nonathletic. Who will help them?? Young Almond? By the way, Kirilenko has never said that he want to be a shooter. He just want to be a part of the Jazz system (at least he said so) and not just "play only defense and that is it". If you want your player to die every day, you should give him some respect and at least tell him what is going on. That is why he was so upset. I personally think that Andrei deserved at least 15 minute talk with coach. Sload did not/does not think this way. After several games Andrei asked him about his role and Sloan said that we drafted you to play defense, so play it. And that is it. Just one phrase. He thinks that if you have 14M contract you must be happy even if nobody cares about you. I am sure Sloan is surprised - "You wanna be a better player and enjoy basketball ?? Man, you earn millions, shout up, be quiet and enjoy millions".

Deron's interview was very interesting and thanks to Brick that he found it. However, Deron is a young star and he will always defend coach because he wants to become the star and to earn $$$ contract and the last thing he wants is to have problems with Sloan.
Actually, Kirilenko also might question Deron's (Boozer's, Okur's, Aurajo's etc) defense ethics. Deron does not want to pass to him because he is not that good at offense. However, I think he definitely wants Kirilenko to do all the dirty work for him and to correct his mistakes.

I think this is THE PROBLEM: Sloan and Deron, and .... want Andrei to play defense and only defense, do "the dirty work" and Kirilenko wanna be something bigger than that. Sloan and other people in organization think that if you have a huge contract you should forget about your ambitions and Andrei thinks that he can sacrifice his contract and play where people will use him properly.

I feel bad for both Utah and Andrei. I guess it will be a tough situation.
 
Bricklayer said:
You would then not go in for what typically makes an athlete, male or female, from anywhere in the world, a champion. Heck toughmindedness is a defiing trait of a champion in almost any field, ahtletics or not.
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See again, I disagree. I think that's your opinion, but I don't agree that's what makes a champion, certainly not "from anywhere in the world". Toughmindedness is one thing. But I think excellence at any sport is a personal challenge, and the toughmindedness I believe in is in pushing yourself to another level, not in demolishing your opponent. I think it takes a certain kind of toughmindedness to determine your own future, to say "I don't agree with the way you want to play, so I'm going to go somewhere else". It takes toughmindedness to defy everyone's expectations and do what you want to do. It's not a macho thing or a testosterone thing (in fact, I think that bias is what prevents people from realizing that women's sports are just as exciting and dramatic as men's sports) -- it's about challenging yourself, and meeting the challenge.
 
hrdboild said:
See again, I disagree. I think that's your opinion, but I don't agree that's what makes a champion, certainly not "from anywhere in the world". Toughmindedness is one thing. But I think excellence at any sport is a personal challenge, and the toughmindedness I believe in is in pushing yourself to another level, not in demolishing your opponent. I think it takes a certain kind of toughmindedness to determine your own future, to say "I don't agree with the way you want to play, so I'm going to go somewhere else". It takes toughmindedness to defy everyone's expectations and do what you want to do. It's not a macho thing or a testosterone thing (in fact, I think that bias is what prevents people from realizing that women's sports are just as exciting and dramatic as men's sports) -- it's about challenging yourself, and meeting the challenge.
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Even if it's about challenging yourself and meeting the challenge...it's not like Kirilenko is doing either. He's complaining and running away from problems instead of facing them with a better work ethic and a more consistent effort on the court.
 
I can't stand Kirilenko for some reason (losing for our eternal rival Russia who also used to be our doormats for last 10 years didn't help much either). Maybe I don't like his face. But walking away from 14 mil contract - you have to respect this a whole freaking lot. I don't think you'd find more than a handful of players in the NBA who would manage to do that.

As for money in Europe it's not as bad as it seems.

Now - I read this on the internet so that might be wrong :) and I'll be glad if someone corrects me but I read that in NBA player salaries are calculated before subtracting the tax so in reality they see maybe half of that money - so Kirilenko can put, say, 7 or 8 mil in his pocket. In Europe, however, the club pays the taxes and the money you see on the paper is all yours.

Contract sums in Euroleague are rapidly rising. Largest one so far was Macijauskas' comeback a year ago for 3 mil Euros - that's almost 4 and a half million dollars - or about 8 mil in NBA before the tax.

7 million dollars is 5 million euros. I can absolutely see some crazed owner paying this kind of money for Kirilenko.

I think in about 10-15 years the salaries will be equivalent across the pond if not better here.
 
Sure, you do not like Kirilenko .... he helped Russia to destroy Lithuania about 10 day ago :) :)


vytzka said:
7 million dollars is 5 million euros. I can absolutely see some crazed owner paying this kind of money for Kirilenko.
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I am sure CSKA is able to give him 5M EU after taxes which is about $14M. .. they have an NBA budget ...

I do not want him to leave NBA but it will be interesting to see Andrei in Europe again ... he will be the biggest star.

P.S. Andrey! Go to Sopot!! We will give you 400K EU :D .. before taxes :D!!!
 
Report: Jazz owner says Sloan will make time to praise AK

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3050125

Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller told a Salt Lake City radio station that he believes a half-hour meeting between coach Jerry Sloan and disgruntled forward Andrei Kirilenko, in which Sloan was asked to balance his criticism with praise, helped convince Kirilenko to stand down from his trade demand, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
In an interview on KFNZ-AM, Miller said that during the meeting with Sloan and general manager Kevin O'Connor, Kirilenko said he would accept Sloan's criticism as long as Sloan was willing to offer equal amounts of praise, according to the report.



"It is incumbent on Jerry to make a reasonable adjustment. That's not to say kiss his butt," said Miller, according to the Tribune. Miller also called Kirilenko "one of the 10 best players in the league."


Sloan, when asked about Miller's on-air comments at Jazz training camp in Boise, Idaho, said he would "do anything" to bring out the best in Kirilenko, according to the Tribune. "I hold myself accountable for those situations that come up. Do what we can to try to help him. I hope that I can get that done."


Just after leading Russia to the European championship last month, Kirilenko said he wanted the Jazz to trade him or release him. He said he had grown miserable playing for Sloan, who is well-known for his gruff demeanor, and felt like a "robot."


But Monday, after meeting with Sloan, Kirilenko steered clear of those comments, saying "I've already said everything. All I can do right now is concentrate on basketball."


Did the face-to-face meeting convince Sloan to change his approach?


"It all depends on who's judging,'' Sloan said, according to the Tribune. "Anytime that things don't go well, you're always considered a negative coach. When a player's not happy, that's usually the first thing that comes out. That's something we don't want to be. We want to be positive.


"I was positive with my teammates when I played. Maybe I've overlooked some of that in my coaching, but I've always felt like that I've been positive. There comes a time that you have to correct people and if that's being negative, then I'll have to accept that."

The Jazz are coming off their best season in 10 years, reaching the Western Conference finals in their first playoff appearance since 2003.
 
I would love to have been there to actually see the meeting between Sloan and Andri... I some how doubt Sloan was diplomatic... I picture a Bart and Homer moment.
 
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