Nets, 76ers had a 'handshake deal' to release Kirilenko
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie agreed to release forward Andrei Kirilenko after the team acquired him in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. However, two sources close to the paper told the Philadelphia Inquirer Hinkie did not keep his word after the trade.
The Nets reportedly told the 76ers that Kirilenko had no interest to report to the team and wished to be released if inquired by the 76ers. Philadelphia agreed to waive physicals as a condition of the trade when it was made in December.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Philadelphia has suspended Andrei Kirilenko for failing to report to the team. The suspension is without pay.
What readers said at the time
1 reply came in under this piece in 2015, and they are kept here as they were written — the readers’ words, not ours, spelling and all. The thread is closed; the desk does not take new comments.
jerry2511 January 2015
I believe that if the Russians would have known that the Sixers were not going to release Kirilenko, they would not have allowed him to be traded, but instead would have put pressure on Hollins to play Kirilenko (at least at home games). Hollins deserves blame for not treating Kirilenko as a respected veteran, and judge him based mostly on performance in games (not practice). AK47 was never given a chance, playing only 5 minutes in games (7 times) after doing fine in preseason and being a major reason for the Nets resurgence last Jan/Feb. Asst. Coach John Welch should have brought Hollins up to speed. Players don’t “lose it” overnight, without injuries, and AK was reported to be healthy. However, most fans and probably few executives are likely aware of how valuable Kirilenko can be, if healthy – even if he can’t hit mid range shots.
Complicating the situation, was the simultaneous (private) word that his wife, Masha, was having a difficult pregnancy, and AK made a commitment to support her. It is widely believed that AK will be able to devote full time to playing for a competing team, by mid February (after the birth?)
The Nets chances for competing for the Eastern Conference, effectively ended with the trading of Kirilenko, IMO. I doubt Nets will be able to get a desirable player using the 3.4 M trade exemption, before it expires.