Marc Stein, confirming reports that the Nets market for Andrei Kirilenko is broader than a salary dump, tweets that the Nets have an "intriguing option" where small forward Jeremy Evans and point guard Toure' Murry would be sent to Brooklyn for Kirilenko. AK-47 of course played eight years in Utah, where he still maintains a home.
And a rumble from the trade front: Word is Brooklyn's market for Andrei Kirilenko is expanding beyond merely dispatching AK-47 to Philly
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 24, 2014
One intriguing option, if Nets wait 'til Dec. 15 when trade market expands, is said to be AK-47 back to Utah for Jeremy Evans/Toure Murry
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 24, 2014
As NetsDaily reported Sunday, there are hints out there that the market for Kirilenko may be broader than a salary dump with the Philadelphia 76ers, both in terms of teams interested and what the Nets could get in return. Beyond the discussions with Utah, NetsDaily hears teams are offering draft picks for Kirilenko.
As Stein notes, such a trade couldn't happen until December 15, when players signed in the off-season are first eligible for trades. Murry was signed by the Jazz in the off-season.
Evans, 27, is an athletic 6'9" forward who's played four years in Utah. His best year was last year when he averaged 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 18 minutes. He played in 66 games, four as a starter. He won the 2013 Slam Dunk contest.
Murry is a 6'5" point guard who reportedly interested the Nets last summer. Murry, 25, played in 51 games for the Knicks, averaging 2.7 points and 1.0 assists in 7.1 minutes. He shot 41.7 percent from three. Evans has played in five games this season. Murry has yet to play, having been assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the D-League where he's averaging 14.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and three assists in four games. Of his $816,000 salary, only $250,000 is guaranteed.
To keep both players, the Nets would have to cut someone currently on the roster, likely either Jorge Gutierrez or Cory Jefferson. Both have partially guaranteed deals. The two players make a combined $2.7 million, which would save the Nets roughly $600,000 in salary and another $2 million in luxury taxes.
Beyond the Utah prospect, the Nets reportedly have offers of draft picks. Nick Borges of ESPN reports that 14 teams have cap room or a trade exception to accept Kirilenko. Among them are Utah, Milwaukee, Orlando, Phoenix, Houston, Minnesota, Sacramento, Boston, Cleveland, Toronto, Washington, Indiana, Oklahoma City and New York.
- NBA Could AK-47 return to Jazz? - Nick Borges - ESPN Insider
- Report: Nets might trade Andrei Kirilenko to Jazz - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports