HERE’S TO AK-47 RETIRING A JAZZMAN

There was a great article on nbafanhouse this week about Andrei Kirilenko.  AK-47 talked candidly about the expectations that come with a max contract and about his future with the Jazz.  Here is what he had to say about the prospects of resigning with the Jazz after his contract expires in 2011.

“Definitely the Jazz is going to be my priority,” Kirilenko said. “From the city standpoint to the team standpoint, because you get used to being here. It’s very hard to change when you’re getting older. So definitely the Jazz is going to be my priority.”

Whoa.  Really?  Andrei likes playing in Utah?  So much has changed in the last 3 or 4 years since AK was talking about voiding his contract and playing for Russia and crying to reporters about his role with the team.  But I just figured that Andrei was waiting for his chance to join the Nets if they were owned by a Russian or want to find a run and gun team to play with.  And if he wants to stay in Utah he probably wants to be shown a respectful contract with good money, right?  Listen to this:

“I don’t think the money is going to be an issue,” Kirilenko said. “I understand that I look at the world realistically. I understand my value is going to be a little lower than it is right now. I’m not worried about that. Money has never been an issue. It’s good to have a good contract and money. But my priority is basketball.’

That is groundshaking to me.  When is the last time you heard an NBA player talk about basketball being more important than money and expressing that they make enough money as it is?  I don’t know if I have ever heard it.  Apparently AK feels that way.  I don’t expect him to turn around and sign for the veteran minimum or anything, but if he’s being honest, Ak wants to sign a cheaper contract and stay with the Jazz.  I don’t know how much he will want, but AK is certainly worth 7 or 8 million dollars a season.  Kirilenko is a veteran in the NBA, but he is only 28 years old and probably has some very good basketball ahead of him.  He is incredibly important to the Jazz and the team’s most versatile defender.  He can guard four positions and is one of the best Jazzmen at getting to the free throw line.

And look at his line from tonight’s game in San Antonio:

26 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block on 11-15 shooting, and no turnovers.  With that kind of line, he deserves the money he is getting paid.

But if the Jazz believe that AK will stay with the team past 2011 and for a 4 or 5 year contract at about half of his current one, then it also means they can’t trade him.  Right now the Jazz only have about 32 million dollars guaranteed to Deron Williams, Paul Millsap, and Mehmet Okur.  They will have another 4 or 5 million in contracts to rookies the next two seasons, but if they can sign AK for a discount, they can still compete and keep a fan favorite around.

I love AK and for the most part, the only negative feelings fans have towards him are concerning his bloated contract.  But as Kirilenko mentions, there is nothing he can do about that now.  But I would assume that Jazz fans would love AK if he were doing his thing for half the price.  So here is to AK staying in Utah and retiring a Jazzman.