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Report: Nets to sign Andrei Kirilenko to two-year contract starting at $3.18 million

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kirilenko looks to pass the ball as he falls to the fall in front of teammate Williams and Brooklyn Nets guard Johnson in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in New York

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrei Kirilenko (front L) looks to pass the ball as he falls to the fall in front of teammate Derrick Williams (R) and Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in New York, November 5, 2012. REUTERS/Adam Hunger (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

REUTERS

The rich get richer.

Or the rich get poorer, depending on your perspective.

The Nets, already set to pay an unprecedentedly large luxury tax, will add another player who adds to the bill.

Peter Vecsey of the New York Post:

Ken Berger of CBSSports.com:

After opting out of a Timberwolves contract that would have paid him $10.2 million next season, Kirilenko is settling for much less in Brooklyn, though he’ll cost the Nets about five times what they’ll pay him. Maybe the market proved to be tighter than he imagined, but maybe he values playing for a contender,

The Nets – with Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez – already had a formidable starting lineup, and Kirilenko is a major upgrade to a bench that already had Jason Terry and Andray Blatche. Kirilenko looked like he was aging out of the league in 2010-11, but after spending 2011-12 playing in Russia, Kirilenko looked rejuvenated in Minnesota last season, playing his trademark all-around basketball featuring strong defense.

Still, Kirilenko is 32, and it’s possible his production will remain up and down (or decline). But if the Nets can hold off aging – not as easy as it sounds; just ask the 2012-13 Lakers – Brooklyn going to be very good next season.