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Report: Nets could trade, buy out Andrei Kirilenko

The Brooklyn Nets announced Friday that Andrei Kirilenko will not travel for road games this weekend against the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs because of personal reasons. Nets coach Lionel Hollins said "I don't know" when asked if he expected Kirilenko to return to the team after the trip.
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The Brooklyn Netsannounced Friday that Andrei Kirilenko will not travel for road games this weekend against the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs because of personal reasons.

Nets coach Lionel Hollins, who was hired in the offseason to replace Jason Kidd, said he didn't know whether to expect Kirilenko to return to the team after the trip, according to a report from the New York Post.

Kirilenko has not played since a Nov. 13 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Over seven games, he's averaging 0.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.1 minutes.

The report indicates that Kirilenko could be traded or bought out.

• MANNIX: Brooklyn's tangled web of woes, return of O.J. Mayo and more

From the Post:

[Kirilenko] was made a healthy scratch for losses to the Heat and Bucks at home this week, and after the Miami defeat on Monday said he felt fine physically and had "no idea" what he had to do to get back into Hollins’ rotation.

Kirilenko's playing time and statistics have dipped since he signed a two-year deal with the Nets in July 2013 after turning down a $10 million option with the Minnesota Timberwolves

The two-year, $6.5 million deal Kirilenko signed with Brooklyn was later reportedly investigated by the NBA after speculation about the possibility of an under-the-table deal, but the league turned up no wrongdoing.

Brooklyn (4-7) plays the Oklahoma City Thunder (3-10) on Friday. 


- Chris Johnson