Billy King’s Plan B’s are the best… Peter Vescey is reporting that the Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a deal with Russian small-forward Andrei Kirilenko.
This just in: Nets have signed. Kirilenko for mini mid-level, 3.1M per
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) July 11, 2013
After failing to come to an agreement with Bojan Bogdanovic’s Turkish Club just days ago, the Nets were set to move onto “plan B.” Of the names that were mentioned, none of them sounded too alluring to Nets fans.
Now, says Vescey, the Nets have acquired owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s fellow countryman and 11 year NBA veteran for the mini-mid level exception.
OK, let's try this one more time between main meal and coffee; Kirilenko has agreed 2 terms with Nets…two years at 3.1M. Second his option
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) July 11, 2013
Kirilenko recently opted out of his $10 million player option for next season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Many thought that he would be seeking a larger, longer-term deal this off-season. When the market for AK47’s services began to dry up, the Nets stepped in and signed the 6’9″, 32-year old Russian.
As David Aldridge notes:
Why did Andrei Kirilenko leave $10M in MIN for $3.1M in BKN (@petervescey1 first)? Didn't want 2 wait for s/t that may not have happened.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 11, 2013
Kirilenko played in 64 games for Minnesota last season and averaged 12.4 PPG, 5.4 REB, 2.8 AST, 1.4 STLs, 1.9 BLKs on 50.7% shooting from the field.
Though he has been a starter in almost every season he has been in the league, he will assuredly be coming off of the bench next season for the Nets.
As Ken Berger of CBSSports notes, this signing will cost Mikhail Prokhorov roughly $15 million when luxury taxes are taken into account. #HELLOPLANB
