Andrei Kirilenko Opts Out of Contract, Will Become Free Agent

Not thrilled at the idea of playing on a one-year deal, Andrei Kirilenko has opted out of the final year of his contract and will be a free agent. Based on the team’s selection of Shabazz Muhammad in the Draft this week, the TWolves had a good idea that AK47 would forgo his $10.2 million player option. Per the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “Andrei Kirilenko turned down $10.2 million guaranteed for next season for the right to negotiate, at age 32, a multi-year extension with any NBA team, including the Wolves. Kirilenko had until today to make up his mind on an option year for next season and he went down to the final day before deciding from the south of France. The Wolves still could re-sign their starting small forward from last season. Kirilenko is seeking a three- or four-year extension because he believes this might be the last chance to negotiate the last big contract of his career. You can bet Flip Saunders won’t offer anything more than two years, and at a salary considerably less than $10 million.”