Jazz owner Miller to Kirilenko: You're on 'thin ice'

Johnny BlazE · 01-19-2007, 08:38 PM

Quote:

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller said Andrei Kirilenko, his highest-paid player, is "putting himself on thin ice" with inconsistent play and complaints about his role on the team.

Miller said he cringes during some of Kirilenko's jump shots.

"I'd almost like to call his bluff, say 'OK, automatically we're going to leave you out there. You're going to take 20 shots a night five games in a row. And then we'll see,"' Miller told radio station 1280 AM.

"That would resolve the issue," Miller said Thursday. "He's either going to make them or he's not."

After a meeting with coaches Tuesday, Kirilenko said he sometimes doesn't feel like he's on the floor.

"I just go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth and I go to sleep," he said.

Miller didn't like it.

"I would have to say he's putting himself on thin ice," the owner told the radio station. "The combination of not playing very well and shooting his mouth off -- that's not a good combination."

But Kirilenko sounded positive after nine points and seven rebounds Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons. He's averaging 9.1 points per game.

"I feel I'm much more in game now," he said. "I hope it goes on for few games now."

This is quite surprising. Kirilenko is a awesome player and most likely is the best, releasing him or sending him away would be stupid. There making a bad mistake.

Thoughts?

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 01-19-2007, 10:07 PM

Releasing him would be stupid, but Miller may need to trade him, Kirilenko's recent play has not been good at all and is really starting to effect team play, nine points a game is not big and seven rebounds is not very impressive compared to previous years...To be the highest paid player on the team, they may just need to trade him and get someone willing to play for them and with good consistent stats...

IMO I just think Kirilenko wants out of Utah...

The Wonder Chimp · 01-19-2007, 11:19 PM

he does, can anyone smell a trade to Golden State???????

But is they release him, he would be the dumbest GM in NBA, not pro sports, cuz of Matt Millen, but he won't release him I'm sure

StylesÃ‚â„¢ · 01-20-2007, 11:32 AM

He'd be stupid to release him a trade to Golden State won't happen IMO, Golden State will wont to work with the guys they just aquired and I think the Jazz would want to move him to the east...

Jazz owner Miller to Kirilenko: You're on 'thin ice'

This is a discussion on Jazz owner Miller to Kirilenko: You're on 'thin ice' within the North American Sports forums, part of the Sports Forums category; SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller said Andrei Kirilenko, his highest-paid player, is "putting himself on thin ...