Could Andrei Kirilenko return to the Nets rotation? Billy King won't rule it out

As NetsDaily noted earlier in the day, Andrei Kirilenko returned to practice today after having left the team to attend to a "family matter" some 10 days ago. Kirilenko, prior to his leave, had fallen out of head coach Lionel Hollins' rotation, and while speculation began to fly that a trade was imminent, it now seems as if there's an open door for Kirilenko to not only return to the team but to work his way back into the rotation.

Andrei Kirilenko returned to practice today. King admitted that they may have to move him, but the present issue is family stuff. #nets

— Alex Raskin (@alexraskinNYC) December 1, 2014

Billy King said it's tough for players to adjust to Hollins' style, but "either you’re going to adjust or you’re going to sit on the bench."

— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) December 1, 2014

There is nothing imminent in terms of trading Kirilenko, according to King. #Nets

— Alex Raskin (@alexraskinNYC) December 1, 2014

Billy King didn't rule out the possibility of Andrei Kirilenko returning to the rotation. "As I told AK, things change."

— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) December 1, 2014

Of course there is some belief that a trade is inevitable, as Hollins really hasn't endorsed the idea of Kirilenko fitting into his system.

#Nets reportedly seeking to trade Kirilenko after Lionel Hollins said he didn't see place for him on team. AK in final year to contract

— NetsDaily.com (@NetsDaily) December 1, 2014

Again, nothing is imminent, but Kirilenko has returned to practice and we'll see on Tuesday night when the Nets take on the Knicks whether or not he'll find his way back into the rotation.

Left unsaid is why the change. Hollins had said he didn't expect AK-47 to return.  Kirilenko --and his wife-- have long term friendships with most of the Russian ownership, starting with Mikhail Prokhorov.  Kirilenko was among the people he consulted before buying the Nets. The two contribute to each other's charities and at one point in 2007, Prokhorov reportedly approached the Jazz about buying out Kirilenko's contract so he could join Prokhorov's CSKA Moscow.  CSKA's GM at the time was Sergey Kushchenko, now a member of the Nets board of directors.

In other practice-related news, here are a few other interesting quotes from GM Billy King. Nothing earth-shattering, as King was not interested in responding to Jason Kidd's comments about the team wanting to fire him last December. He also spoke about the expectations for Brook Lopez and the Core 3 as a whole.

Billy King did not want to respond to Jason Kidd's comments: "We've moved on." #Nets

— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) December 1, 2014

Billy King on if the Nets can compete with their core 3 of Deron, Joe, and Brook: "We'll see."

— devin kharpertian (@uuords) December 1, 2014

Billy King on if Brook can meet Hollins' expectations: "We're not sure yet, bc you're still talking about a guy coming back from injury."

— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) December 1, 2014

Billy King on if shakeup required: "I don't know. We're on the phones, we're talking to people, but there's nothing imminent."

— Stefan Bondy (@nydninternets) December 1, 2014

The Nets play in New York on Tuesday and then again on Wednesday, at home, against the Spurs.

• Play daily fantasy basketball at FanDuel - FanDuel
• Andrei Kirilenko rejoins Nets at practice - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Another slow start and the Nets are searching for their identity - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Net GM sounds like he's given up on team's Big Three - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
• Nets GM Billy King sees no reason to make a move - Colin Stephenson - Newsday
• Andrei Kirilenko Returns to Nets Practice, Maybe Not for Long - Alex Raskin - Wall Street Journal
  
• Nets’ Kirilenko: Family issue will keep me off road trips - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• The Nets have the most expensive "Big 3" in the NBA - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
• Andrei Kirilenko returns to Nets, does not expect to travel on the road - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
• Nets GM Billy King Doesn't Rule Out "Tweaks" - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
• Billy King mulling a shake up for the Nets? - Brian Erni - SNY Nets
• Billy King isn't sure if the Nets' core can 'compete' - Matt Moore - CBS Sports
• Andrei Kirilenko back with Nets, probably won’t travel for road games - Dan Feldman - NBC Sports
  
• Brooklyn Nets' Andrei Kirilenko returns to practice, won't travel due to family issue - Sports Illustrated
• Kirilenko Returns to Practice But Doesn’t Foresee Traveling with the Nets - Lenn Robbins - Brooklyn Nets
  
• It's Time For This King's Reign To End - Allen Robertson - We Must Be Nets