Andrei Kirilenko looking to make comeback in the NBA – NBA News
Andrei Kirilenko has aspirations of returning to the NBA, where he played 10 seasons for the Utah Jazz before leaving last season to play for CSKA Moscow.
However, his decision will be based on what he is being offered in the NBA, and could very well return to CSKA for next season as well.
Considering the talent boasted by Kirilenko, it is not a surprise that teams are lining up to hire his services. The Brooklyn Nets are said to be the frontrunners to land his services, with the owner of the Nets Mikhail Prokhorov
hailing from the same country as Kirilenko. The Nets will be looking at Kirilenko as a solid back up to the front court duo of Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace. He is a small forward who can play the power forward position as well.
Apart from the Nets, The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors are said to be interested in the Russian forward. The Wolves are eying him as a back up to All Star forward Kevin Love, which is a top priority for them.
The Warriors, on the other hand, are looking at him as an alternative to David Lee.
“The Warriors, according to league sources, have him on their wish list. At 6-foot-9, 235 pounds, Kirilenko doesn’t figure to have the bulk the Warriors would want at power forward, but he’d fit well as a PF in a small line-up.
Even with that, Kirilenko is a defensive specialist and the Warriors simply just need guys like that on the roster. Kirilenko can also play small forward, which he did for years with Utah,” said a report on the Contra Costa Times.
Kirilenko played 10 seasons for the Jazz as both a starter and a bench player. He averages 30.8 minutes of playing time over the 10 seasons with the Jazz, and has numbers of 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists over the course
of his career. He is a great weapon on the defensive end, and a consistent scorer on the offense, making him a player with value on both ends of the court.
Kirilenko is receiving interest this off season, but the eventual decision will come down to salary, and the forward could very well return to Moscow if they give him a better contract.
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