Andrei Kirilenko will be without the Nets for the team’s two-game road trip, and possibly forever.
The team cited “personal reasons” for Kirilenko’s absence, and a team source confirmed to The Brooklyn Game that Kirilenko’s lack of minutes and boot from the rotation played a factor in him leaving the team indefinitely.
When asked if Kirilenko had played his last game for the Nets, one high-ranking Nets source said, “If I were a betting man, I’d say probably.”
Coach Lionel Hollins told the team’s beat reporters that he wasn’t sure if Kirilenko would return to the team after the trip, later saying he did not expect Kirilenko to return. It appears the 6’9″ forward is on his way out of Brooklyn.
Source says situation between Kirilenko and Nets probably won't be resolved until he's on another team.
— Stefan Bondy (@nydninternets) November 21, 2014
Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN cites sources that have told him the Nets and Philadelphia 76ers have had discussions about moving Kirilenko & fellow Russian forward Sergey Karasev to Philadelphia:
According to sources, Nets have had preliminary talks w/ Sixers about moving Kirilenko + Karasev. In such case Sixers likely waive Kirilenko
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) November 21, 2014
The situation marks a precipitous decline for Kirilenko, who played in just 45 of 82 games last season, mostly due to back trouble. The team was 30-15 in games Kirilenko played in, and he was effective in his minutes last season.
RELATED: Andrei Kirilenko Hints At Retirement Timetable
After picking up a player option for this season worth $3.2 million, Kirilenko has played in just seven games with the Nets this season, noticeably struggling in his limited minutes. This weekend’s slate of games will mark Kirilenko’s third and fourth straight on the inactive list, despite a clean bill of health.
