The Nets' offseason got even better with the addition of Andrei Kirilenko. (Photo: Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports)
Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov finally got his man.
Fellow Russian Andrei Kirilenko reached a two-year deal for the taxpayer's mid-level exception to play for the Nets, a person with direct knowledge of agreement told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the deal is official.
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It is a surprising development considering Kirilenko opted out of $10 million left on the final year of his contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kirilenko will now make $3.18 million in 2013-14 and has a player option for 2014-15 for roughly the same amount.
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The deal may not have been what Kirilenko wanted when he decided to opt out of his contract and become a free agent, but the big money spent on free agents began to dry up, limiting his options.
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Kirilenko now heads to a Nets team that is getting stronger by the day. Brooklyn has had a stellar offseason, starting with the trade that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets from the Boston Celtics.
Brooklyn's projected starting five is Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Pierce, Garnett and Brook Lopez with Kirilenko, Andray Blatche, Reggie Evans and Shaun Livingston off the bench.
Kirilenko is a 12.4 point-per-game scorer for his career and can do a little bit of everything: score, pass, rebound and run the court. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in his only season with Minnesota in 2012-13.
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