Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov seems to be about one thing this offseason—winning. The Nets made another addition to their roster with former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrei Kirilenko, according to ESPNNewYork.com citing a league source.
Kirilenko will join a bench that includes guard Jason Terry, guard Shaun Livingston, forward Andray Blatche and forward Reggie Evans.
The Nets are using their mini mid-level exception on Kirilenko. The source said the deal is for two years with a player option in the second year. He’ll make $3.1 million in the first year.
Kirlenko had a decent 2012-2013 season averaging 12.4 points and 5.7 rebounds. He is a starting-quality forward so the fact he will most likely be the seventh man off the bench displays the Nets great depth.
Prokhorov and Kirilenko are both Russian natives and also have ties to each other. Before coming to the NBA, “AK 47” played for CSKA Moscow which was a previously owned by the multibillionaire Prokhorov.
Kirilenko was in his last year of a two year, $20 million deal with the Timberwolves before opting out. He would have made $10 million in the second year.
This means he will make almost $7 million less with the Nets in the first year of his contract. Kirilenko most likely made this decision because of the moves the Nets made this off season and the direction in which the team is potentially headed.
In addition to the aforementioned bench, the Nets traded for two future Hall of Famers in power forward Kevin Garnett and small forward Paul Pierce. While Garnett, 37, and Pierce 35, are in the latter stages of their careers they bring veteran leadership and heart to the Nets—two things the team is in desperate need of after last season’s first-round playoff exit courtesy of a less-talented Chicago Bulls team.
The two former Celtics are expected to join a starting line-up which includes All-Star caliber point guard Deron Williams, arguably the best offensive center in the league in Brook Lopez and a great scoring guard in Joe Johnson.
The trade that sent the three Celtics, including Terry, to the Nets is expected to become official on Friday. Both Blatche (who re-signed with the team) and Livingston officially signed on Thursday.
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