This season in Europe, Andrei Kirilenko has been about the most dominant player on the continent — he was EuroLeague player of the month for October (he was slowed in November after a faceplant). Plus, his dancing looks improved.
And now with the NBA lockout over the free agent has options all over the globe.
Reports from international basketball site Sportando say AK47 is headed back to the states. The Jazz would like him back. The Nets would like him. A few other teams could use him (the Lakers keep looking at big men and are rumored. even though they really need a point guard).
But Kirilenko’s agent told the Salt Lake Tribune the rangy forward may just stay in Moscow.“He and I have decided to evaluate the NBA interest versus what he has over there and then a decision will be made,” (agent Marc) Fleisher said….
Kirilenko, 30, signed a three-year contract with CSKA in October. The deal features an opt-out clause that will allow him to return to the NBA once the lockout is officially over, as well as an opt-out at the end of every CSKA season. All the money he earns while playing for CSKA is being donated to charity.
Options. It’s good to have options.
But as he gets paid more on this side of the pond, I expect to see AK47 back in the NBA. Where is another question all together.