http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2007/04/24/carlos-boozer-is-there-to-dry-andrei-kirilenkos-tears/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolsportsblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F23%2Fcarlos-boozer-is-there-to-dry-andrei-kirilenkos-tears%2F&frame=true
Carlos Boozer Is There to Dry Andrei Kirilenko's Tears
by Matt Watson
Not too long after Andrei Kirilenko literally shed tears about his diminished role with the Jazz, his teammates let him know that they're still counting on him for this series. From the Salt Lake Tribune:
"AK's fine," forward Carlos Boozer said. "We talked to him yesterday. Sometimes, you have to get some things out. He got what he had to get out, and now he's ready to move forward and he's ready to play. I went up to him on the bus and told him, 'Look, man, you're our X-factor. We need you. We need you more than anybody.' He basically said thank you. I told him I loved him. . . we just basically pumped him up and told him that this team can be great with you."
That's nice to see, especially since it's been Boozer's emergence as the team's dominant player this year that's pushed Kirilenko to a supporting role. But if you were hoping to read about some kind of heartfelt moment shared between player and coach, you're going to be sadly disappointed:
Coach Jerry Sloan and Kirilenko both said they did not speak much about the incident - "a little bit," Kirilenko said - and Sloan said he still plans to start Kirilenko against the Rockets tonight.
Again, Artest 7 mil and his contract expires next season. If it doesn't work he can walk
Ak-47 salary: 13 mil, 15 mil,16 mil, 17 mil. And if things do not work he will be almost untradeable. If things do not work out you might have to wait until the end of the 2011 for trade or for him to walk.
In the last 3 years he is constantly getting injuried.
04-05 41 games
05-06 69 games
06-07 70 games
That's alot of missed games for a guy that has a big contract.
[Edited by - BigC on 07-04-2007 12:21 AM]
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