76ers suspend Andrei Kirilenko
NEW YORK – Now, it makes sense.
76ers coach Brett Brown confirmed Friday morning that Andrei Kirilenko has been suspended without pay. The forward has yet to report to the team after being acquired in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 11.
The 33-year-old refuses to play for the franchise. But the Sixers have been unwilling to release him from his expiring contract. Kirilenko is unable to collect the remainder of his $3.3 million contract under the suspension.
Brown said he can't wait to see the Kirilenko situation get resolved by him joining the team or being released.
"How it's going to play out, how it is going to be resolved, I'm going to leave that to the club to work that out," Brown said. "I'm disappointed that I didn't get the chance to coach him."
Brown has a relationship with the Russian forward. As former Australian men's basketball coach, he coached against Kirilenko in the 2012 Olympic Games. Brown was also an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs before being hired by the Sixers in August 2013. Kirilenko was a close friend of a lot of the players Brown coached in San Antonio.
"I got a lot of respect for him," Brown said. "So when we signed him, I was excited to bring him in."
Instead, the Kirilenko situation has turned into a circus.
The suspension explains how the Sixers were able to acquire and release Jared Cunningham on Wednesday without cutting anyone from their roster. The Sixers have 15 players, the maximum number allowed. But they were allowed to make the trade.
"Just because of [Andrei] Kirilenko's absence, it's allowed for us to have a flexible spot," Brown said Wednesday. "Which is a good thing, and we'll learn more about that shortly as well."
But Hoops Rumors points out that teams can carry 16-man rosters if a player is serving a suspension.
The Sixers were expected to waive Kirilenko shortly after they acquired him in the trade. Sources even told Inquirer columnist Bob Ford that a handshake deal was in place for the Sixers to immediately release the 6-foot-9, 235-pounder. A Sixers source disputed the allegation. Another source said the team wants to keep him and see where things go.
His playing could have increased his trade value if the Sixers want to swap him for another asset at the trade deadline in February.
"I was looking forward to coaching him," said Brown, who was unaware of any handshake deal with Kirilenko. "After we did it [made the trade], I had coffee with him for an hour and a half, just talking. I sat with him with Andrei. I wouldn't have made to effort to do that if that were in place."
Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and on instagram at PompeyOnSixers