[NCarmean18Participant]

 According to an ESPN report, the Minnesota Timberwolves and free agent forward Andrei Kirilenko have officially agreed to terms on a two year contract.  In ten seasons with the Utah Jazz, Kirilenko averaged 12.4 PPG, and he played in Moscow last season, winning the VTB Final Four MVP award. 

[Raef LaFrentzParticipant]

Great signing for the Wolves. He adds basically everything they needed: Defense, veteran leadership, a winning mentality, and he makes his teammates better (very underrated passer).

[JunkYardDogParticipant]

@ Raef LaFrentz

"(very underrated passer)" : YES !!!

and he will play for Rick ADELMAN one of the coach who favors and excels players who pass the ball well (Divac, Webber, Miller, Turkoglu, Bibby, Christie…)

[SpacegrassParticipant]

Kirilenko is as good of an all around player skill wise as you will find at his position in the NBA.  He just does not have the big time scorer mentality but he could get you 16pts 8reb 5ast 3blk and 2stl a night if he played 35 minutes a game.  Total stat stuffer , an awesome knickname(AK47) , and how many 6’9 230lb white guys have led the league in BPG in the modern NBA?  Plus you got to love him for this……..

Even his wife passes well.

[CodySLCParticipant]

 Its a good pick up by the Wolves. But are they crazy?! Giving him a 2 year 20 million dollar deal with a 3yr player option. He in this 30’s now and has always had a history of injury when he played for the Jazz. I think at best at this point in his career, he will get you 13ppg 6.5rpg 3apg 1.5spg and maybe 2bpg, which is more than respectable.

[blood]

 contract then what they gave to 5,6′ Barea,plus Kirilenko isnt washed up or something,i mean guy played 2 games per week in Europe,he can start right away and be legit contributor

[baggin13Participant]

AK is a top defender who can gaurd multiple positions, he has a ok shot, can finish at the rim, and is an amazing passer. His creativity and ability to get his teammates involved is crazy. He is one of the ultimate glue guys in the league.

[JustaFanParticipant]

Good pickup for the Wolves and it might spell trouble for D.Williams. I’ve always liked Kirilenko’s game but I’ve also always thought he looked like a serial killer.

[Raef LaFrentzParticipant]

I’m really hoping AK-47 can teach Love and D-Will a few crafty veteran moves on the defensive end so they can become more effectie defenders. That in and of itself would be worth the signing.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

Seems like people are really overlooking a lot of things. Kirilenko fits a lot of needs for this team. It probably would not have hurt this team to have gone after another veteran, maybe a defensive minded center, but AK can play. He was usually dissed for being overpaid. If he is overpaid, now, maybe it’s by a couple of million a year, but if Ryan Anderson can make 9 a year, surely a guy that plays both sides of the floor and does way more can make 10 mil. Despite being overpaid, I never heard of anything serious about Utah ever trying to move him. He was far too valuable.

I always thought he was under utilized in Utah. To a degree you can understand when you end up playing with a guard like Deron Williams and you have to make sure Boozer got his touches during the time he was competing for all star teams. AK never really got a chance to get more responsibility until Boozer went down, then he struggled with injuries his last few years. Playing in Russia was probably great for him because he got healthy and stayed healthy with that type of schedule. I also thought that AK was better as a PF. He was more of a mismatch with his speed and IQ at that position on offense and as a defender, it put him in better position to rebound and block shots. He was never a great shooter and really didn’t get many opportunities to create as a 3, but he still could play solid d and impact the game.

[Raef LaFrentzParticipant]

Amen.

The Wolves don’t need him to score a ton of points, but he is an impact player on both ends of the floor. He has the IQ and length to wreak havoc on the defensive side, and he has enough tools to be a good weapon on the offensive side when teamed up with a PG like Ricky Rubio. I don’t mind the overpayment either, like you said. If Ryan Anderson can make 9mil per year while only shooting threes while being a below average rebounder for his position, AK-47 can make what the Wolves offered him.

[chevilicousParticipant]

Coming from a Jazz fan, I love kirilenko and always have, and was hoping the guy would end up back in salt lake city after his trip to Europe. However a big misconception of the guy is that he is some kind of an elite defender. He is very good in transition, and is a great weakside defender. But by no means is he going to anchor a defense for a team. He is a decent on ball defender, and really struggles when he gets posted up by just about anybody. The biggest thing he’s going to bring to the T-wolves is his ability to create for his teamates, and slash to the basket. One thing Rick Aldeman coached teams have always had is great passing big men, and I’m sure he’s going to utilize him allot within that offense.

[Captain LParticipant]

AK has been one of my favorite players for yrs , if he could shoot he would be a top 10 player in the league but he’s not a very good shooter and that is the problem, his injury hx is a concern and as he gets older it has shown to be even more of a concern. I was still hoping the Jazz would pick him  up until they got Marvin Williams, the Jazz getting Marvin made getting AK unnecessary, unlikely and at 10 mil. a yr ill advised. I hope AK fits in well with the Wolves and I hope he can stay healthy, if he does, he should have a good yr. I love how he makes his teammates better and plays the game the way it should be played.

[franfranParticipant]

 10.1 ppg 6,2 rpg 2,4 apg 1,4 spg 1,2 bpg = Minnesota 1º or 2º round of play-off

[GrandfiNalley101Participant]

 I like the move, the global Wolves.. Lol. Really, It is a good signing. I would like to see a healthy Rubio& Roy along with AK-47, Love, along with D. Williams. I kinda of root for the underdogs but these guys would be beast in the east.

[Golden State of Mind]

R the white guys in Minn claiming AK as White? How does the klan feel about that?

[river09Participant]

 I cannot wait to watch the wolves play this year. I really think if everyone stays healthy they will be very competitive. Not to mention they are going to have serious depth at almost every position (except center, I hope they bring Prestes up, him and Pek would be flat out scary to play… ).

[NbanflguyParticipant]

R the white guys in Minn claiming AK as White? How does the klan feel about that?

Yup. He looks white to me……. but maybe I am just crazy

[Golden State of Mind]

First claiming Rubio to be White, when he is Spanish and now claiming AK to be White when he is Russian. You really need a non-Black basketball hero dont you?

I dont know if your crazy or not, but to clarrify: do you consider Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Hedo Turkoglu and Danilo Gallinari to be White also?

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Huge upgrade at SF for the Wolves over what they had before. He can finish Rubio plays, bring steals and blocks to a team that is always going to be a little weak in those areas when playing Love and Pek. It depends on if he is healthy and can avoid injuries, but at 31 he is NOT old yet. He isn’t in his prime, but in his prime he was a complete stud. If he can bring 2 steals and 2 blocks a game, that is going to transform the Wolves. 

By the way, everyone harshing on Ryan Anderson needs to check the stats. His 8.6 rebounds on a per 36 minute basis was perfectly fine for PF. You can’t just look at per game stats when you are talking about a guy who doesn’t play that many minutes. If Anderson had played 40 minutes a game like Kevin Love, he would probably have been real close to a 20 and 10 player. That is why he got paid the big bucks this Summer. 

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

 cleary ak is european…. hence hes white

now if his name was jamal yousif and was born in iraq.. then he wouldnt be considered white cuz thats the middle east…. 

every european player in the nba is technially white…. 

y did i break it down?? idk y

[Golden State of Mind]

You are a idiot. Is Mickael Pietrus White also?/p>

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

and to people who want to neg me becuz of being racist

first off my whole family is from iraq so i have every right to use "jamal yousif" as an example

[Golden State of Mind]

I wont neg you because your a racist. But I will neg you for being a idiot.

[blood]

 So only American Caucasians are white ?! You are stupid.

[Golden State of Mind]

Yes, in USA it is and its White with a captial, idiot. Steve Nash doesnt consider himself White, he considers himself Canadian.

[HaleParticipant]

You’re confusing skin color and nationality. There is a difference. Steve Nash is both white and Canadian. Rubio is white and Spanish. Luol Deng is black and also British. See what I’m saying?

[Golden State of Mind]

^ I know the difference. Only White Americans consider themselves White. Canadians, South Americans, and Euros do not consider themselves White.
</

[HaleParticipant]

That may be so, but the color of their skin is still white.

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

wow

i wont even argue back

not becuz u proved me wrong bucuz u clearly didnt 

just becuz i was taught my morals at a very early age 

[aamir543Participant]

Guys, it’s not that hard, Mikael Pietrus’ nationality is french, his skin color is black. Rubio is a Spaniard, his skin color is white. Luol Deng is of Sudaneese roots, but he is British, and his skin color is black

[European BallerParticipant]

First claiming Rubio to be White, when he is Spanish and now claiming AK to be White when he is Russian. You really need a non-Black basketball hero dont you?

I dont know if your crazy or not, but to clarrify: do you consider Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Hedo Turkoglu and Danilo Gallinari to be White also?

 

Can someone please explain to me why this racist scum bag has not been banned yet?

 

It is absolutely outrageous to see stuff like this posted here and have to read it.

 

[European BallerParticipant]

I know the difference. Only White Americans consider themselves White. Canadians, South Americans, and Euros do not consider themselves White.

 

Site owner Aaran Smith – I am requesting a ban for this user now. We should not have to tolerate this incredible level of racism here on a basketball forum.

[aamir543Participant]

^Hey EuroBaller sorry if you’ve already answered this question of mine but can you please tell me what you think of Davis Bertans and how he’s done this past season, and when he’s most likely to come over, I think he’s another one of the Spurs’ valuable jewels.

[raybeasParticipant]

AK was always one of my favs becasue of his all-around game. Last guy (to my knowledge) to have a quintuple5 game ( 5 or more in five categories, points , rebounds, assists, steals, blocks).

[European BallerParticipant]

^Hey EuroBaller sorry if you’ve already answered this question of mine but can you please tell me what you think of Davis Bertans and how he’s done this past season, and when he’s most likely to come over, I think he’s another one of the Spurs’ valuable jewels.

 

He’s a decent player. He’s nice for his age, but he’s nothing special. The Spurs are extremely overrated for their overseas scouting. Guys like Bertans and Hanga are just average players for the European level, if even that.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker? Were they average European players? Because they certainly are not average NBA players, much less average in International competition. Say what you will about Bertans or Hanga, but the Spurs have that going for them (even though Ginobili is indeed Argentinian, he was playing in Europe). Yes, they may get a lot of praise for their overseas scouting and may not always hit like the first two players I mentioned. Still seems like they did a pretty damn good job. Kind of nitpicking to blame them for gambling on two mid-late 2nd round picks, like most teams tend to in that situation.

[ENOGSIWONdede]

 Gasol: white

Hedo: white

Ginobili: hispanic

Galinari: white

[European BallerParticipant]

Ginobili is white.

Please stop being a dumb ass.

[McDunkin]

European baller you are a close minded asshole and i havent had a problem with anyone on the site but I absolutely hate you.

[European BallerParticipant]

Piss off racist McDunkin.

[Author]

Posts