Andrei Kirilenko - Not Worth A Handsome Salary?

[Bricklayer]

There are not a lot of guys who can average 17, 8, 3, 1.9 spg, and 2.8 bpg. He deserves a place on a high pedestal.

No there aren't a lot of guys who can get those numbers, but the question would be how significant are they when matched up against the superstar type players? And they are a bit lacking if that's what we're trying to anoint him as. He's a great player, but is he really a franchise guy? A carry you all by himself guy? Not sure about that.

However I remain sure that the Jazz absolutely have to sign him.

 

[Gargamel]

No there aren't a lot of guys who can get those numbers, but the question would be how significant are they when matched up against the superstar type players? And they are a bit lacking if that's what we're trying to anoint him as. He's a great player, but is he really a franchise guy? A carry you all by himself guy? Not sure about that.

However I remain sure that the Jazz absolutely have to sign him.

Imo, he's up there in superstar territory based on what he's done last year. He averaged about 3 PARBS less than Nowitzki. He's still only a 3 year vet, so there's room for improvement in the scoring dep't, which is probably the easiest thing to add to one's game. He's definitely a franchise player. He's exactly the type of player you don't let slip thru your fingers.

There are a lot of superstars who can't carry their teams alone, so that shouldn't be a knock against AK. However, the Jazz were respectable with him as their only go-to guy (without Harpring for 50 games).

 

[Bricklayer]

I think we may be tossing around the term "superstar" a little loosely if 16.5pts 8.1rebs 3.1ast gets you there, even with great defense. Lamar Odom last year put up 17.1pts 9.7rebs and 4.1ast and I wouldn't call him a superstar either. Star level player sure. Best player on his team, sure. But like Kirilenko, the team's success was a collective effort rather than an individual brilliance thing.

Put another way, Doug Christie in Toronto once had a season where he went 16.5ppg 5.2rpg 3.6apg 2.4spg and I don't think anyone accused him of being a superstar. Really good (and underrated at the time) player, but really now.

BTW, I would strongly suspect Dirk's PARBS to shoot up this year with his in-team competition eliminated. Whether Kirilenko deserves a "super" in front of his star probably depends on whether his does the same. Have my doubts. If they have a healthy Harpring/Boozer/Okur crew this year, think his numbers might even go down. He'll still key the defense, but may just be one of a quartet of 15ppg scorer types they'll be relying on. IMO his true beauty for the future is that if they can ever find a "true" superstar type player, that Andrei is the perfect compliment -- can play his full game without interfering or being diminsihed by the main guy.

 

[Gargamel]

I never definitively labeled AK a superstar, but I think he's right there in the nether region between stardom and superstardom and I do think he's the Jazz' franchise player. The difference between him and guys like Odom-03 and Christie-96 is that AK has the potential to improve from his previous season. The other two probably peaked in those seasons. AK can very well earn the superstar label if he increases his scoring alone.

 

[6th]

I never definitively labeled AK a superstar, but I think he's right there in the nether region between stardom and superstardom and I do think he's the Jazz' franchise player. The difference between him and guys like Odom-03 and Christie-96 is that AK has the potential to improve from his previous season. The other two probably peaked in those seasons. AK can very well earn the superstar label if he increases his scoring alone.

I like this assessment of AK. I too think he has the potential, and based on his increased value to the team, the probability of becoming a superstar as the franchise player. However, considering the players that the Jazz picked up this offseason, I question if Sloan will play him as much as he played him last year.

 

[peja16]

I think we may be tossing around the term "superstar" a little loosely if 16.5pts 8.1rebs 3.1ast gets you there, even with great defense. Lamar Odom last year put up 17.1pts 9.7rebs and 4.1ast and I wouldn't call him a superstar either. Star level player sure. Best player on his team, sure. But like Kirilenko, the team's success was a collective effort rather than an individual brilliance thing.

Put another way, Doug Christie in Toronto once had a season where he went 16.5ppg 5.2rpg 3.6apg 2.4spg and I don't think anyone accused him of being a superstar. Really good (and underrated at the time) player, but really now.

BTW, I would strongly suspect Dirk's PARBS to shoot up this year with his in-team competition eliminated. Whether Kirilenko deserves a "super" in front of his star probably depends on whether his does the same. Have my doubts. If they have a healthy Harpring/Boozer/Okur crew this year, think his numbers might even go down. He'll still key the defense, but may just be one of a quartet of 15ppg scorer types they'll be relying on. IMO his true beauty for the future is that if they can ever find a "true" superstar type player, that Andrei is the perfect compliment -- can play his full game without interfering or being diminsihed by the main guy.

Good take, especially the stuff in bold. There's a high respect for "do-it-all" players nowadays, maybe too much. Being a jack of all trades (Pippen) might not get you as far as a player more dominant in several aspects (Jordan), but without the same arsenal of skills.

And Hndsmcelt was spot-on as far as the contract situation goes, as long as they don't insult or ingore him, they really have no reason to extend his contract at this point, and can simply match for market value next summer.

And there is no danger in that case, because with max players, you can't overpay. As long as other teams are willing to pay the max, you re-sign him, and are basically in the exact same situation as last year.

I'd say this is more about his agent generating bad publicity for the Jazz, trying to pressure them into a long-term deal, incase he has on off-year or an injury or something.

 

[mcsluggo]

I would say that the problem with Pippin wasn't the fact that he wasn't more dominant in different aspects of the game, it was that he was a head-case.

He was an a-hole, selfish person (though usually not a selfish player); and he had nerves of butter at the end of games. He was dominant enough in ALL aspects of his game (until the end o' the game). I'd equate him roughly with Karl Malone in that respect (and unfortunately, all too many king's players)

 

[jacobdrj]

Yeah, only worth 86 mill (NBA.com)

 

[4cwebb]

Kirilenko's line from first game: 16 points on 5/6 from the floor and 6/7 from the line, 6 boards (2 offensive), 1 assist, 5 turnovers (yikes), 1 steal and 8 blocks. 8 blocks -- ridiculous. If Jazz don't want to extend his contract, I say we start pushing an AK-47 for Peja trade right now...

 

[HndsmCelt]

They signed the 80 mill contract this week... AK 47 will be in Mormanville for a long time

 

[Superman]

Andrei Kirilenko is the truth. Ask the eight Lakers whose shots got blocked by him last night. I still can't believe that Carmelo Anthony complained about not getting picked to go to the All-Star game over AK47.

 

[VF21]

I still can't believe that Carmelo Anthony complained about not getting picked to go to the All-Star game over AK47.

At one point, I actually defended Melo. After recent actions and comments, however, I think he's just another spoiled kid with way too much money because he has a natural ability to play hoops. AK47, on the other hand, works HARD out there and it's because he's not a natural that his effort is all the more impressive.

 

[Superman]

Word.

 

[vladetomiller]

At one point, I actually defended Melo. After recent actions and comments, however, I think he's just another spoiled kid with way too much money because he has a natural ability to play hoops. AK47, on the other hand, works HARD out there and it's because he's not a natural that his effort is all the more impressive.

And the main thing that i am impressed with players of that caliber is the improvement they show year after year, not just the athletic ability to jump and dunk which makes them the lottery picks.

 

[VF21]

And the main thing that i am impressed with players of that caliber is the improvement they show year after year, not just the athletic ability to jump and dunk which makes them the lottery picks.

Exactly. (Boy, that's rare. You and I agree???? Someone mark this date and thread down for posterity.)

 

[vladetomiller]

Hey we have agreed on lots of things before, its just that some of the core issues that we remember the most, we are way apart.

 

[Deez]

When I read the title of this thread, my first thought was, "I never thought I'd see the words 'Andrei Kirilenko' and 'handsome' in the same sentence."

Disclaimer: I didnt read the whole thread, so if that was already mentioned, my apologies.

 

[vladetomiller]

Apparently his beautiful, rich, pop singer wife thinks he is handsome

I am a guy so i dont know if he is handsome or not, but he doesnt strike me as an ugly person which many of the nba players do look like

 

[Deez]

Apparently his beautiful, rich, pop singer wife thinks he is handsome

I am a guy so i dont know if he is handsome or not, but he doesnt strike me as an ugly person which many of the nba players do look like

To each his (or her) own, I suppose.

 

[Gargamel]

He looks like a human eagle.

 

[Superman]

Is that an oxymoron or what?

 

[LPKingsFan]

His mohawk was sweet.

 

[Superman]

His mohawk was sweet.

Sike.

 

[iheartBrad]

AK and Gasol always reminded me of the same type of player...given AK is slightly more advanced in different stats...but they always reminded me of the same player...like the same player to the team

anyone who thinks that AK isn't worth alot or that he is overrated OBVIOULSY has never watched AK play basketball (in a 48 minute NBA game) cuz the kid is absolutely crazy statistically...and everyone would die to have a player like AK on their team