Andrei Kirilenko signs with Brooklyn Nets at the mini mid-level

[CelticsFan9]

Wow!

AK47 can back up both Pierce and KG.  Great pickup.

[jarufu]

I don't think Paul or Kevin will play major minutes in the regular season.  I'm looking forward to see what they could do against the heat in the playoffs next year.   

[Who]

G - Jason Terry, Tyshawn Taylor
G - Shaun Livingston
F - Andrei Kirilenko, Mirza Teletovic, Tornike Shengaila
F - Andrei Kirilenko, Reggie Evans
C - Andray Blatche, Mason Plumlee

I think the Nets have one of the top benches in the league.

Not in the top 2-3 benches league wide but maybe in the top 4th-8th benches.

Kirileno gives them one of the finest sixth men in the league (PF/SF) and their big men depth is really strong (Blatche very good backup C, R.Evans and M.Plumlee very strong third stringers).

Their perimeter corps are much weaker (unless J.Terry has a sudden revival) but they should be adequate. Especially with the high minutes D.Williams and J.Johnson are likely to play.

[banty19]

Do you guys think that they are legit contenders now?

They're the sort of team that looks like contenders on paper, but if they finished 6th in the East, would anyone really be shocked?

This. I'm getting a 2012-13 Laker's vibe to them. Pierce looked awful to end last season and KG's always an injury away. But I guess even if both fail they probably wouldn't be dramatically worse than last year (a mid seed).

[tarheelsxxiii]

Do you guys think that they are legit contenders now?

They're the sort of team that looks like contenders on paper, but if they finished 6th in the East, would anyone really be shocked?

This. I'm getting a 2012-13 Laker's vibe to them. Pierce looked awful to end last season and KG's always an injury away. But I guess even if both fail they probably wouldn't be dramatically worse than last year (a mid seed).

Think they will come out like gang busters, slow down a bit once emotions wane and nagging injuries accumulate, then finish the season where they'll be projected.

Definitely, legit contenders.

[danglertx]

Nooooobody sees this as a little fishy?  Kirilenko taking a 7mil pay cut and a lesser role on a team to go play for a team that happens to be owned by a Russian Billionaire? 

Nobody thinking there might be some salary cap circumventing there?  Pretty questionable to me.

[syfy9]

Do you guys think that they are legit contenders now?

They're the sort of team that looks like contenders on paper, but if they finished 6th in the East, would anyone really be shocked?

I would. They were 4th seed in the playoffs last season. I doubt that all of these acquisitions are going to make them worse, barring injury. I'm thinking that they'll at least be 4th - Atlanta nor any other lower Eastern team have nearly as much talent as this team.

[RebusRankin]

Nice move by them. I like what they are doing.

[ManUp]

Brooklyn is looking like a straight beast on paper.

Coaching maybe their Achilles heel.

[Celtics4ever]

I think they will contend if they can get past the chemistry.

[Who]

Nooooobody sees this as a little fishy?  Kirilenko taking a 7mil pay cut and a lesser role on a team to go play for a team that happens to be owned by a Russian Billionaire? 

Nobody thinking there might be some salary cap circumventing there?  Pretty questionable to me.

Kirilenko opted out of his $10 million contract in order to get a longer team deal at a lesser rate of pay. Long term security over short term payout. I am guessing he was looking for $6-8 million a year for 3 years ($18-22mil, 3yrs) or $5-6 million over 4 years (20mil, 4 yrs)).

It looks like he and his agent misjudged the market though. There didn't seem to be any interest in Kirilenko from any good teams who had more than the MLE to offer.

In the end, given the lack of suitors and desire to play for a contender, I reckon Kirilenko just decided to find a team where he felt comfortable and would enjoy his basketball since he was unable to get the type of contract he was looking for. So he took the mini-MLE from Brooklyn. 

It doesn't look like cap circumvention to me. Just an agent and player taking a risk that didn't pay off (financially at least).

[Nowee]

Nooooobody sees this as a little fishy?  Kirilenko taking a 7mil pay cut and a lesser role on a team to go play for a team that happens to be owned by a Russian Billionaire? 

Nobody thinking there might be some salary cap circumventing there?  Pretty questionable to me.

See page 1. My thought exactly.

[Who]

Do you guys think that they are legit contenders now?

They're the sort of team that looks like contenders on paper, but if they finished 6th in the East, would anyone really be shocked?

I see them as 3rd to 5th in the East during the regular season.

I don't think they can catch the Bulls or Heat. I think both of those teams will be in the 60s win wise while Brooklyn will be in the 50-55 range along with Indiana and probably New York.

I don't think the chasing pack behind them (CLE, WAS, ATL, TOR, MIL) will catch Brooklyn though. They should be pretty safe in that second tier in that 3rd to 5th seed range (so long as they are not decimated by injuries).

[LooseCannon]

Nooooobody sees this as a little fishy?  Kirilenko taking a 7mil pay cut and a lesser role on a team to go play for a team that happens to be owned by a Russian Billionaire? 

Nobody thinking there might be some salary cap circumventing there?  Pretty questionable to me.

Not really unexpected.  He gambled on being able to secure a longer-term deal and lost.  So, he's grabbing a one-year deal with a player option for a second year and he'll try again next season.  It's not like he didn't try to work out a deal somewhere else before signing with Brooklyn.

[Mencius]

Nooooobody sees this as a little fishy?  Kirilenko taking a 7mil pay cut and a lesser role on a team to go play for a team that happens to be owned by a Russian Billionaire? 

Nobody thinking there might be some salary cap circumventing there?  Pretty questionable to me.

See page 1. My thought exactly.

That's exactly how I'm seeing it, too.