After Philadelphia and the Brooklyn Nets completed a trade involving Andrei Kirilenko on Dec. 11, Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie has expressed that there are no immediate plans to cut Kirilenko loose, league sources said.
The Philadelphia Sixers were suppose to waive Kirilenko, but have simply switched the script and have asked him to report to the team and begin playing, According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
The Sixers are looking to acquire additional pieces to help rebuild for the future, and is asking Kirilenko to report to the team in an attempt to showcase his talents. The Sixers would rather deal him than simply releasing him and getting nothing back. The Sixers want to establish the value of Kirilenko for a potential deadline trade or to let him reclaim his value for free agency. The Sixers have no intention in keeping Kirilenko passed the trade deadline but they are looking at Kirilenko to help them acquire some assets.
Kirilenko and his representatives are demanding the Sixers organization to waive Kirilenko and let him become a free agent. Kirilenko wants the balance of the $3.3 million owed to him this season, and the freedom to sign elsewhere on a new deal this season.
Kirilenko has averaged 0.4 points, 0.1 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 11 games this season and is looking to sign with a contender come February.
