The Philadelphia 76ers traded for Andrei Kirilenko almost two weeks ago when the Brooklyn Nets were dumping salary from an underperforming team. The Nets sent Jorgie Gutierrez and a second-round pick along with Kirilenko to the Sixers for Brandon Davies. Kirilenko has yet to report to the 76ers, mostly due to a medical family issue that has him still in New York. It was assumed that Kirilenko would get his release from the Sixers and then become a free agent, free to sign with any contender willing to have him.
That's not necessarily the hopes of Sam Hinkie and the Sixers. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Philadelphia wants Kirilenko to report to the team and play for them. Despite the Sixers having no hopes or intentions of going for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference this season, they do hope to continue stockpiling assets and they're hoping Kirilenko can help accomplish that.
The Philadelphia 76ers are requesting forward Andrei Kirilenko report to the team and prepare to start playing in games, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
For now, Kirilenko and his representatives are resisting the Sixers' overtures, preferring the organization waive Kirilenko and let him become a free agent, sources said.
After Philadelphia and the Brooklyn Netscompleted a trade for Kirilenko on Dec. 11, Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie has repeatedly expressed to Kirilenko's camp that there are no immediate plans to cut him loose, league sources said.
The thought process is Kirilenko will get himself into shape and show that he's still a very valuable role player for any of the contenders hoping to scoop him up for a playoff run. Kirilenko showing this on the 76ers would mean a team could possibly trade a second-round pick in exchange for the Russian veteran. The Sixers have no intention of keeping him past the trade deadline, but they do want to try to get Kirilenko to net them another asset.
Kirilenko is reportedly not interested in giving up any of the money owed to him this season, something that would likely have to be agreed to if he were to be waived or bought out at this time. We're at a bit of a stand-off between the Sixers wanting a player they've acquired to play for them to increase his trade value and a player wanting to cut out the middle man, not have to report to such a bad team, and keep all of his money in the process.