SB Nation Minnesota - Andrei Kirilenko Close To 2-Year Deal With Minnesota Timberwolves

Andrei Kirilenko Focused On Conditioning In Timberwolves Offseason

2012-09-19T00:45:59Z

In 2012, new Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrei Kirilenko will be getting used to the NBA again after spending a year playing professionally in Russia. There will be adjustments for Kirilenko, the first of which, according to him, will be his conditioning.

"I'm working a lot on my physical condition," Kirilenko said. "It's the most important thing in the NBA. My game is very energetic. As long as I'm in good shape, I'm running. That's my game is running."

(via Pro Basketball Talk)

The Wolves will be relying on Kirilenko to be a big part of what they hope is a push back into the Western Conference playoffs. Needless to say, the team will need him to be healthy and in-shape, as their margin for error will be very slim.

For more on the Wolves, visit Canis Hoopus or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around basketball, head over to SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Timberwolves Complete 3-Way Trade, Sign Andrei Kirilenko

2012-07-27T18:02:43Z

On Friday afternoon, the Minnesota Timberwolves officially completed the proposed three-team deal with the New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns that had been reported on July 25.

The deal will see the Twolves sending Wesley Johnson and a first-round pick to the Suns, so that the Hornets can send guard Jerome Dyson and the contract of retiring center Brad Miller to Minnesota.

This will then free up Minnesota's salary cap situation so that the team can complete the signing of free agent forward Andrei Kirilenko to a reported two-year, $20 million contract.

Three-way Hornets, Suns and Wolves deal finally completed, clearing way for Minny to sign Andrei Kirilenko to 2-year, $20M deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 27, 2012

For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus. You can also check out professional basketball news from around the league over at SB Nation's NBA page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Andrei Kirilenko Deal The Wolves' Last Of The Offseason?

2012-07-26T00:56:24Z

With Andrei Kirilenko reportedly in tow, the Minnesota Timberwolves have significantly reshaped their roster this offseason. General manager David Kahn has shipped out underperforming swingman Wesley Johnson, allowed forwards Michael Beasley and Anthony Randolph to sign elsewhere and added a long list of players: Brandon Roy, Alexey Shved, Chase Budinger, Greg Stiemsma, Dante Cunningham and Robbie Hummel.

According to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN, Kahn is likely done dealing:

After chat w/ high-level Wolves source, think they're done. Slight chance of 1 more move. Look for 1st rd pick in trade to be the Mem. pick.
— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) July 26, 2012

In subsequent tweets, Wolfson leaves open the small possibility of Minnesota dealing for another big man. He also reveals that they never seriously pursued sharp-shooting swingman Brandon Rush.

With the failed Nicolas Batum chase and all of these roster moves, Kahn's been a busy man. Perhaps he can get a tiny bit of rest now.

For more T-Wolves trade news, stay with this StoryStream. For more Timberwolves coverage, head over to Canis Hoopus. And for more NBA news and analysis, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

Andrei Kirilenko To Sign 2-Year, $20 Million Contract With Minnesota Timberwolves, According To Report

2012-07-25T22:16:57Z

On Wednesday afternoon, Adrian Wojnarowski cited a league source in reporting that the Minnesota Timberwolves are finalizing the details on a two-year contract with free agent forward Andrei Kirilenko worth $20 million.

According to the source, the deal is expected to include a player option for the 2013-14 season.

Minnesota is finalizing a two-year, $20 million contract with free agent forward Andrei Kirilenko, league sources tell Y! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 25, 2012

The 31-year old was drafted with the No. 24 overall selection in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz and spent his entire career with the team before returning to Russia to play for CSKA Moscow in 2011-12. Kirilenko helped lead the team to the Euroleague Final and was named league MVP.

For more T-Wolves trade news, stay with this StoryStream. For more Timberwolves coverage, head over to Canis Hoopus. And for more NBA news and analysis, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Trade Rumors: Timberwolves Targeting Andrei Kirilenko, According To Reports

2012-07-25T01:30:53Z

The Minnesota Timberwolves are making things quite interesting in the post-summer league NBA offseason. Building on earlier reports that Minnesota plans to trade former first-round pick Wesley Johnson the Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda confirms what the T'Wolves might be up to following the trade.

Per @WojYahooNBA earlier tweets, league sources confirm Wolves are targeting Kirilenko, perhaps at $9M a season for at least 2 years
— Jerry Zgoda(@JerryZgoda) July 25, 2012

Reports earlier in the day had Andrei Kirilenko in the cross-hairs of the Brooklyn Nets and Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov. Kirilenko was quoted in the article mentioning he had options and it appears Minnesota may be a favorable one for the Russian forward. Kirilenko played ten seasons with the Utah Jazz before playing last year for CSKA Moscow and has made it known he plans to return to the NBA this season.

For more T-Wolves trade news, stay with this StoryStream. For more Timberwolves coverage, head over to Canis Hoopus. And for more NBA news and analysis, be sure to visit SB Nation's NBA hub.