Come on guys, nobody`s touched this one! This is a Lakers guy, in Tokyo, writing this! Let me offer you guys a quote:

"...Didn`t even have to use my AK, I Gotta Say It Was A Good Day"
--Ice Cube

Andrei Kirelinko did have a great year, the same way Shawn Marion functioned--and taking the reverse route by whining, asking for a trade....but ultimately staying. AK-47`d be smart to stay because Jerry Sloan runs a great program and Deron Williams is gonna be battlin` CP3 for The Best Young Point Guard.

He filled the stat sheet, fitted in unselfishly around the pick-and-roll Stockton/Maloneisms, this team is *deep*, so deep, which reminds me of another Ice Cube quote which definitely I can`t write here. Much respect to Utah and their fans.

I hope AK can recover from playing with the jazz.

After Sloan has nearly destoyed his career, by not using him correctly and playing him out of position.

Anonymous, AK is a far better now than he was a year ago. That's because his owner, Larry Miller, and his coach, future hall-of-famer Jerry Sloan, had the wisdom, foresight and genius to alter their handling of him. They realized that AK possesses many skills needed by the team, and though they didn't need him to score 20 points a game, they needed him to thrive in the Jazz system, scoring, rebounding, dishing, stealing, tipping the ball, defending, etc. I was wrong about AK last summer when I advocated dumping him and his lousy attitude. But Sloan and Miller and AK proved me wrong. AK is a new man. With increased shooting practice, recreating game situations and game-like shots, he will only get better as a shooter. That should be coupled with working out to add some bulk and muscle. But just look at AK's attitude, which the Jazz Brass along with Hornacek have nourished. "The year was great. Mental part of it was great," AK said. "The game — nothing really changed much, but I kind of changed my priorities. I was trying to concentrate on helping my teammates more." Kuods to the Jazz and to AK-47!

AK may have a lot of skills that help the Jazz but driving AND finishing at the basket is not one of them. He is too lanky and looks like a puppet by the way he throws his arms all over the place trying to get the call. He would benefit from trying to gain some muscle and weight. I just wonder what the year would have been like if we got Marion.

Goal for the off season...EVERYONE needs to work on their defense and staying in front of their man so they don't waste their fouls with the wimpy reach in's that they are famous for.

Sloan has ruined AK we need to rid of him, and
get another quality lanky player that match up
against the Duncans, WEsts,Gasols,Odens,Yaos

Oh if the Jazz had only traded for the Matrix..

I love ya AK, but the Matrix could actually defend in one-on-one situations.

The only hope know is that the Jazz can work out a AK for Jermaine O'Neal (plus cash) deal.

or

Fire/Retire Sloan

Marion is now a free agent... so lets get them BOTH! Andre Iguodala, and Marion would be HUGE pick-ups for the Jazz this season. Jaron Collins, and Jason Hart will find themselves in lower elevation next season. Throw AK with a back-up Marion, and Boozer with a backup Iguodala, maybe trade and put Shaq coming in off the bench for Mehmot, and we've got a 75-game winning team!!!

How can some idiots still say they should fire Sloan when he has always performed at a very high level and all the professionals who know what they are actually talking about still call him one of the best coaches in the league?

Anyway, the question is whether they can unload AK at his max contract level, so they can afford D Williams upcoming max money contract! If he was only $6 or $7 million a year, they could maybe afford him for his defense/blocks and other intangibles, but not for max money.

Think about it - AK is coming off a nice year. He shot over 50%, continued his mastery of the intangibles, ended the season with 2 clutch 3-pointers, and appears now to be a positive, team player who can mend differences with a tough coach. Translation - his value has never been higher. I do like AK, but we cannot afford over 15 million a year for him when we need that money to max out D-Will, bring in a tough, defensive-minded big man, and pay Brewer, CJ and Price enough to keep them around. Now is the time. AK will continue to up his value with what I assume will be solid play in the Olympics. Time to make this happen while we can!!

I forgot to add one of the most important things for the future - we need AK's freed up money to also sign Milsap long term. D-Will, Milsap, Brewer, Price, and CJ are the young kids we need to lock in and never will if we are stuck paying AK 16-17 million a year.

Ya, I love AK and think that in the Jazz system he is probably worth about 8-10 Mil a year, unfortunately they are paying him 15 Mil a year. I think in a system like the Warriors he could be a 15 Mil a year player. Could you imagine him on the court with Davis, Jackson, Harrington, and Biedrins?

Anyways, the bottom line is that if they keep AK and resign Williams and Millsap then they will be in Luxury Tax territory. That may be what the Jazz decide to do because moving AK is going to be tough.

I think the Jazz are going to lose Hart and Miles to free agency and I would expect Fes and Almond to step up and take their spots. Given the philosophy of Jazz management it is unlikely they are going to do anything major this offseason. The one thing I think the Jazz need to get is a tough, defensively minded PF/C type and there are a few that will be available as free agents (Kurt Thomas, Desanga Diop), maybe Fes can be that guy, but he really hasn't shown that so far.

The Jazz really have nearly all of the pieces of a championship team. What they lack is defense and that could be addressed by one or two good free agent pickups or one of the young guys stepping up.

Great perimeter scorer who has a killer instinct and is at his best in the clutch - check

Good bigs who can score a high percentage in the paint - check

A great bench - check

2-3 deadly shooters - check

Good coach - Check

Shut down defender who can guard elite SG/SF types - maybe? I think if Brewer wanted to he could be that guy.

Big who intimidates shooters in the paint - Nope. I think Memo is a good post defender but he certainly is not going to strike fear into anybody, and Boozer seems to be getting worse defensively every year. Millsap is a good defender and shot blocker he's just a little on the small side I think if the Jazz pick up a defensivly minded PF/C (Desanga Diop??) to back up Okur they will be in better shape next season.

I'm going to give Boozer one more season before I turn on him.

If the Jazz every dream about going to the finals and winning in the years to come, AK is a MUST HAVE. Ak has worked so hard to prove himself this year, and I think that he needs the well wishes and support of the Jazz fans to show appreciation for how well AK has changed his attitude to be a team player and help his team win. I know that I am proud of AK for what he has accomplished this year and how well he has maintained his attitude and play. There is a reason that AK is a franchise player, and even though the Jazz coaching staff doesn't use him as one, the reason is still there. AK is not a replaceable player in my eyes. No one in the NBA can do what he does in all categories. Yes, Marion is a great player, but he is not AK-47. No one in this league has the ability to put fear into another opponent like AK does. We have all seen it this season and especially in the post season. AK might not be the 30 points per game, but he will forever remain the "X" FACTOR!

With his value increased - it is time to unload the guy. His attitudes are just as likely to return when his moods change again. Trouble we don't need when we are focused on winning.

Marion sucks. He's the most overated player in the NBA. Read his article in the ESPN mag where he said he'd rather win a MVP award then making the playoffs. That's a nice headache to have all year.

I love to watch AK play.

Too bad about the "weirdness" of the "misunderstanding", unfortunately that's what will be remembered, but AK is great.

It get's old listening to smackers talk trash about things they don't understand.

Utah has as bright a future as any team in the NBA. Well owned, well coached,well managed, and youthful.

How long (besides D-Will) has it been since they had a meaningful lottery pick? Good management, and coaching have made them a consistently fun team to watch.

Be a little grateful we don't have a trigger happy owner.

Jazz are so cool! Go Utah...Yeah,Yeah & Uh huh...

We need to dump KA and pick up Brand and Maggette...there's the answer...

I'm glad a lot of you guys aren't GMs because you guys would stink at it.

Example: "dump ak and pick up brand & maggette"
Nice pickups, but we lost energy and youth and have a big hole at the 3 position. Plus you crowded the 2 and 4 positions where they won't find time on the floor. We don't need any more of those guys. Sheesh! Think it through fellas! We don't want to become a flash in the pan like the Boston Celtics will be. They're only gonna be good for couple years due to age. I think they should keep everyone and collectively get better. The talent is there. The Jazz need to utilize it.

DUMP KIRILENKO AND BOOZER.

Hey,
Your right, sign all the young guys long term and i love AK, he is a phenomenal player but his off the court distractions are a big problem. Trade him for a Small Forward that plays defense.

It is a big mistake to bypass Hornacek for sloan, We need a three point shooting coach. Pluse Hornacek knows defense the way the JAZZ play it right. Boozer shot us out of just about every postseason game and had a terrible second half season after alstar break, He is too small to play and post up against taller players, He is scared of the ball so to speak when someone would drive the middle he would move out of the way as afraid to be hit... Hornacek for Sloan, its time, Trade boozer for a good shooting tall forward and draft a tall husky center hittier that can play Def and shoot the ball. Iglouadala would fit along with Diop Unload Collins, Harpring and Hart for Magette or small forward who can play inside like Brewer has and from the outside like korver. Korver had great defense in post season He did look good -- but with out a New Head Coach we cant beat a Jackson. Sloan still doesn't know how to use the "Hot Shooter" and give us the killer instinct. He is too old school, refuses to accomadate the winning 3pt. shot.....DA