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Utah Jazz: Kirilenko will carry Russian flag in Games

I think that's great. I know he has is detractors here, and I think he is overpaid, but he is a nice young man.

That is really cool for AK! What a great honor for him to have. I am glad though to see that someone other than AK is reporting this though. If it was just AK reporting this news, then he might have been seen walking into the stadium with just a little three inch Russian flag. Yes, AK you are holding "a russian flag."

Thats a great honor for him. Now what I want is for him to carry his load for the Jazz. When paid like he is we need more from him.

(Deep, menacing, monotone voice): Da, it is good to see young Andrei carry the symbolic glory of Mother Russia. We will crush you!

Also, Go Jazz!

I dont understand why AK gets so much flak from Jazz fans, he shot the highest FG percentage of his career last year and almost singlehandedly defeated the Lakers in the last ten minutes of the last game. Sloan doesn't call many o-sets for the guy and yet he is still in double digits. His blocks and rebounds are down because he is busy chasing the koby's and Mcgrady's on the perimeter... This guy is a super-valuable piece that can guard all 5 positions on the floor, pass and score.. get real Jazz fans..

AKs numbers would be slightly better if the Jazz would stop trying to force everything thru Boozer when he is defended by tall athletic defenders. AKs versatility is underated and he is worth a large contract (that is why he has one). At 16 mil he is probably over paid about 3 or 4 mil a year. He can play several positions well and is very valuable to a run and gun team. He also is very valuable to a European team.

He has been moved from PF to SF and in the Jazz scheme that reduces his offensive output. However, he is important insurance and can be veteran leadership when he wants to. DWill has been emerging as the new leader of the Jazz. DWill also controls how many touches AK gets. AK used to be the leader of the Jazz (when he signed his new contract). That leadership transition has effected AKs attitude in the past.

Rumor is that Houston just got Artest. The Jazz will have to get one more very good player to compete. LA, NO and Houston are better at this point.

Houston did get Artest and that is frustrating because the Jazz wasted stockton/malone career because they didnt want to pull the trigger and get the missing piece to the puzzle. Camby would have been a great pick-up, Artest would have been great.. lets roll the dice, get McDyess, or Mourning, those guys are old but they can still defend better than Boozer or Memo. Bring them in to spell Boozer and Memo to toughen up the D.. They would not even be that expensive. The Jazz need to do something now because their competition just keeps getting better..

That's great for A.K. Keep him over there.

No matter what the Jazz do they will never win a championship. They can not get the better role players to come here and play. You have to have a bench that can score to win a championship. Never happen!!! So just keep the players we have a pray for a miracle. If Boozer leaves, who cares. Whoever he guards, scores more points than he does game in and game out. AK is a keeper because he does the little things. Memo can score but refuses to play the post or defense. All you AK haters need to face reality. AK does more for the TEAM than either Boozer or Memo.

MCDyess, Mourning, or even Artest would be the missing piece to a championship? I enjoy reading these comments for laughs and to remind me that KOC knows more than most about building a team.

With the Straw Man & McBaby -- yea powerhouse. McBaby has the self confidence of a slug. Now add Detest to the situation and his cancerous personality will dominate. There is a slight chance that the Rockets will be better, but I am not counting on it. I think that wackjob is going to bring what little the Rockets have down in shambles.

I have said it before. Every great team has a long-armed defender (Pippin in Chicago, Odom in LA, Garnett in Boston, etc). AK is ours and is invaluable. Loose him and we have zippo defense against talented shooting guards and small forwards.

Wonderful, all star NBA players are overpaid. I think a couple million dollars a year is enough for anyone. That one-year salary is about what I will make in my lifetime.

I heard Olden Polynice might still be available

Olden Polynice is still available!

Mourning is very cheap and could be rented for a year if he was willing to come. He would be a great replacement for Collins (no offense to Collins).

Artest and Adleman have worked together before. Artest's contract is up next year so he can be dumped if he causes any trouble.

In wages of win Jackson was worth 2+ wins and Artest was worth 3+ wins. However, Artest can help carry the Rockets if Ming or McGrady get hurt. Artest scored 20 points a game last year and can play defense (sometimes).

The Rockets are paying two first round draft picks to trade Jackson for Artest. That is a high price for a 1 year rental. However, he plays more than one position and can carry the scoring load if one of the scorers goes down.

Adelman is building a team that can win without Ming (and or McGrady).

You AK supporters just don't get it!!! Nobody is saying that what AK does isn't valued!! It is just in the day of the salary cap you can't have a defensive specialist as your max salary player! You just can't! You may argue "well, give him the ball more." Serious?? Are you going to take it out of D-Will's hands? AK isn't strong enough to take over Boozer's role down low. Ak doesn't shoot the ball better than Memo to take his touches. He is left getting the type of shots he does and that would be fine (combined with the other nice things he does) IF he were paid less. As it is, he makes too much for what he gives and that will prevent us from going and signing the player you are all screaming for us to go and get. In other words, we can't deal for an Artest-like (we don't want Artest) player because they cost too much with AK on our squad. AK is nice - no doubt - but not $14 million nice when we need $$$ to sign some help.

Artest will never play for a winner. He could not play 2 minutes for Sloan.

I agree - we need to dum AK's salary before next year and better yet dump his "I don't want to just play defense" attitude this year. Any ideas how we could do a sign & trade to get Josh Smith or Marion for AK? How many teams would need to be involved to make it work?

Trade AK for Marion. Then let Marion walk when his contract expires next yr. Give the extra PT to one of the young guys. Huge savings.