HoopsHype.com Rumors

The T-Wolves projected lineup (when everyone is healthy) has Brandon Roy as the only black player along with Nikola Pekovic, Ricky Rubio, Andrei Kirilenko and superstar Kevin Love. "It's just basketball," Roy said. "I never really had to feel like I'm the only black guy out here. I've played on teams that maybe had all black guys and the feeling is just the same when I'm out there on the floor playing with these guys. The only problem we have is in the weight room, arguing over what music we're going to listen to." USA Today

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Andrei Kirilenko, Kevin Love, Brandon Roy 

Kirilenko, who will be in town Wednesday with the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA pre-season game against the Detroit Pistons at MTS Centre, spoke to the Winnipeg Sun on Sunday from Minneapolis after a team practice. It will be Kirilenko’s first visit to Winnipeg, but he said he’s aware of the hockey passion here and, although there’s no real time for them to explore the city, he’s looking forward to seeing something new. And he has one small goal, too. “Definitely I want to buy a jersey,” he said, undoubtedly endearing himself to Winnipeg Jets fans. “It’s a very rare opportunity because I’ve never seen the other parts (of Canada) but I like hockey.” Born in Izhevsk, in the western portion of Russia, Kirilenko was curious about the Russian influences on the Winnipeg Jets and then listed off his favourite players. “(Ilya) Kovalchuk, (Alexander) Ovechkin, (Evgeni) Malkin, those are the three I cheer for,” he said. Toronto Sun

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, NHL 

His options, however, are many. Starting small forward Andrei Kirilenko can move to the power forward against some teams, with Dante Cunningham, Lou Amundson and Derrick Williams also available to fill in. If anyone thought it was Williams' spot by default, Adelman shot that down Thursday. "Why would people assume that?" Adelman asked. "He's certainly one of the guys that has to play there, but it's going to be him, Dante, Lou, Andrei may play some there. That's what we're going to have to find out the next three games and the practices, what's the best way to go." ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Derrick Williams, Dante Cunningham 

During the offseason, Prokhorov pursued Kirilenko, but to no avail. The biggest reason was likely because the Nets could only offer the forward the veteran's minimum, while the Timberwolves were able to pay him $20 million over two years. On Friday, Kirilenko spoke to ESPNNewYork.com about his relationship with Prokhorov, but he wouldn't comment on any of the negotiations. "Those questions I'm not going to answer because I'm a Minnesota Timberwolf right now," he said. "There's no problem with it, but I don't think it's correct when you're talking about the different teams, because when you do, they have a player at your same position. I don't think it's going to be a good idea when you talk about the team because the player who plays your position will think, 'Oh, they wanted to bring Andrei instead.' I don't think it's a good idea." ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Andrei Kirilenko 

Jerry Zgoda: Kirilenko: "We prove Russia can invade the United States, in terms of basketball." Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved 

According to Taylor, among the new Wolves’ player acquisitions, coach Rick Adelman pushed hard for Andrei Kirilenko and Chase Budinger, and Kahn pushed hard for Brandon Roy: “The coach wanted a guy who could defend more than one position, and David found the best person who fit that description in [Nicholas] Batum. We overpaid to try and get him but we lost him. So then we went after Kirilenko. “The coach says, ‘This is the guy I want. He never talks about scoring, he talks about passing and he talks about defense. I need that player in my system to be successful.’ So that one was clearly the coach. Minnesota Post

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Brandon Roy 

He'll have a big helping hand when he moves to Minnesota, since he will be joined by NBA veteran Andrey Kirilenko. Shved is thrilled to have such a good friend as a teammate. “He's been playing in the NBA for 10 seasons and he's vastly experienced.He's always the kind of guy you can go to for some advice. He's a great person to have around, and is a good friend of mine, both on and off the court,” Shved said. “I am sure he will help me out when I get there, and I'll try and take his advice on board.” RT

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Alexey Shved 

Jerry Zgoda: AK declined to answer when asked how hard Nets' Russian owner pursued him to sign, saying it wouldn't be proper Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Andrei Kirilenko 

Russian team leader Andrei Kirilenko plans to play not just in Rio, but also in the 2020 Olympics. BasketNews.lt

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics 

Russia’s top basketball player, Andrey Kirilenko, sees supporting Kevin Love and inspiring younger players as his main tasks at the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kirilenko is returning to the NBA this summer after a very successful year with CSKA Moscow and a bronze medal performance with Russia at the London Olympics. “[Minnesota coach, Rick Adelman] said that he was glad that I’m coming,” he told Sport-Express newspaper. “He said he didn’t expect that they’ll be able to drag me out from Russia as I was doing so well with CSKA. We’ve known each other for a long time, since Utah and his Sacramento were fighting in the playoffs.” “According to Adelman, he sees me as a sort of a bear leader – an experienced player, who’ll be an example for the young talent Minnesota has in the squad,” the 31-year-old added. RT

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko 

Andrei Kirilenko states that Rick Adelman’s game is very similiar to European basketball, he admired the play of Sacramento Kings back in the days under Adelman with Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic and he believes that kind of playing style is ideal for him. 31 years old forward is also excited about his former team mates in Minnesota, he says Kevin Love has become a superstar and Ricky Rubio showed a lot of promise before getting injured last season. When asked about if he feels responsible about Alexey Shved as the Russian player will be a rookie this season with Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko said: “I think he has a good chance and potential to be an essential part of this team but I can not go out there and play for him even if I wanted to. In my opinion you need three things to be succesful in the NBA: 1.Confidence of your coach, 2.Performance and 3. Good Luck. You need to join the right team, with the right role, with the right coach and at the right time. For my part I will do my best to help him adapt as quickly as possible and focus on basketball.” TrendBasket

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, Andrei Kirilenko, Rick Adelman, Alexey Shved 

Jerry Zgoda: Kirilenko after Russia beat Argentina for bronze today: "Feels like gold to us." Twitter

Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics 

Sean Deveney: Rus coach David Blatt said #Timberwolves F Andrei Kirilenko (2-12 FG, 5-10 FT) played Fri's semifinal w a bad quad. "He had to have a shot" Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Injuries, Russia, Olympics, David Blatt 

John Hobbs: Kirilenko confirmed that he played with a sore quad. Twitter

Andrei Kirilenko, Injuries, Spain, Russia, Olympics 

Kirilenko tried to make the same claim when he was asked about the prospect of playing his NBA colleagues for a gold medal and the flood of 40-year-old memories such a showdown would trigger. "Right now it's a different time," Kirilenko said. "Then it was a communist time. Right now everybody is playing together. Some Americans play in Russia. Some Russians play in America. It doesn't really go into politics." Yet when pressed about 1972, Kirilenko couldn't stifle a huge grin as he kept talking. "What do you want me to say?" he asked. "I like the win. I like the win in '72." ESPN.com

USA Basketball, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics, USSR 

Darren Wolfson: Andrei Kirilenko's agent tells me Andrei will be here immediately after the London games for a press conference, etc. #twolves Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko 

This Russian team is built around 31-year-old Andrei Kirilenko, who exploited the NBA lockout as a reason to return home and play for CSKA. He regained his health and his energy, and in these Olympics he has looked like the younger Kirilenko who was an All-Star for the 2003-04 Utah Jazz. His teammates are all younger with the wherewithal to provide Blatt with size at every position, enabling them to extend their defense and create easy baskets. "With him the Russian team got a face," Kirilenko said of Blatt. "We don't have a great scorer, but we're going to have a team game. We're going to have a great team defensively, we're going to have a press, and we glue it together." SI.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, USA Basketball, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics, David Blatt 

After Brazil took a lead late in the game, Shved had a driving assist, a pull-up jumper and a three-pointer, before teammate Vitaliy Fridzon hit a game-winning three-pointer from the corner with four seconds remaining. "I like him,'' Russian forward Andrei Kirilenko, another player signed by the Timberwolves, said of Shved. "He's growing up. Our whole team is growing up together. I think he's taking that role very, very seriously, and I think he's going to keep blossoming.'' Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics, Alexey Shved 

Only four players averaging at least 20 points in Olympics, of course all are from NBA: Kirilenko (25.5), Scola (24.0), Ginobili (23.5) ,Yi (23) and Pau Gasol (20.5). Sulia

Pau Gasol, Yi Jianlian, Luis Scola, Andrei Kirilenko, Olympics 

Julien Deschuyteneer: "I've always liked Rick Adelman since Sacramento when I came into the league. His team had a very European flavor" Andrei Kirilenko #JO2012 Twitter

Houston Rockets, Andrei Kirilenko, Rick Adelman