MINNEAPOLIS -- Andrei Kirilenko is opting out of the final year of a contract that would have paid him $10 million next season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, making him a free agent. Kirilenko made the decision on Saturday, the deadline that was written into the two-year, $20 million deal he signed last summer, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. In turning down the final year of his contract with the Timberwolves, Kirilenko is instead hoping to get a little extra security with a longer term deal when the market opens at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on July 1. The versatile forward is coming off a rejuvenating year in which he averaged 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the Wolves, his best season in the league since 2005-06. The 32-year-old had more spring in his step after spending the lockout year playing at home in Russia, and he flourished in Rick Adelmans free-flowing system. But Kirilenko also missed 18 games with assorted injuries, one of a number of Timberwolves players who missed significant time last season, the ninth straight year they have missed the playoffs. Kirilenko was largely responsible for the Wolves dramatic improvement on the defensive end, with Adelman enjoying the luxury of being able to put him on every position besides centre, depending on who was the biggest threat on a given night. His ability to pass and move without the ball also made him ideal for Adelmans offence, and the veteran was superb in helping fellow Russian Alexey Shved make the transition to Minnesota for his rookie season last year. New Timberwolves President Flip Saunders started getting an inclination that Kirilenko could opt out at least a week ago, and he made some plans for such a scenario. The Wolves acquired swingman Shabazz Muhammad in a draft-night deal with the Utah Jazz on Thursday night in part to give them some depth at small forward. They also have Derrick Williams on the roster, though he has shown in his first two seasons to be a more natural fit at power forward and could be on the move himself. The Wolves could try to negotiate a longer term deal -- perhaps two or three years -- at a reduced salary to bring Kirilenko back. Or they could use the $10 million theyre saving on his contract to help pay restricted free agent centre Nikola Pekovic, who is expected to get a significant offer on the open market that the Wolves will have the option of matching, and add a veteran shooting guard to a team that finished last in the league in 3-point shooting last season. Kirilenkos decision could leave the Wolves with about $7 million to spend on free agents. O.J. Mayo, Kyle Korver, Kevin Martin, J.J. Redick and Marco Bellinelli all could be free agent targets for the Wolves. They also want to re-sign unrestricted free agent forward Chase Budinger, who would help fill in for Kirilenko. If Kirilenko does go elsewhere, he will undoubtedly be a sought-after veteran. He proved last season that he still had plenty of good basketball left in him after four years of declining production led to his decision to play 2011-12 in Russia. And any team looking for a lockdown defender and willing passer to help make a playoff push could jump at the chance to bring him into the mix. Wholesale Mets Jerseys . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Stitched Mets Jerseys .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. https://www.cheapmetsjerseys.us/ . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. New York Mets Pro Shop . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Mets Jerseys China . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. After a series of horseplay from the Colorado Buffaloes?to the?Michigan Wolverines, there is no shortage of monkey business leading up to?their meeting Saturday.First, the Buffaloes trolled the Wolverines with their?uniform combo for the game.?Next, they?gave Harbaugh & Co. a taste of their own medicine with a mock depth chart featuring the likes of Austin Powers and Lloyd Christmas. This is where things got fun.You could say the Buffs are the persistent little brother egging for a response while poking at big brother Michigan. If a response is what they were looking for, they got it. Michigan replied?to the depth chart.That was a definite jab at the Buffs Dumb and Dumber combo at punt returner. Time to make things personal.Oh, yes. They brought Jim?Harbaughs khakis into it. But Michigan was still prepared to play along.If youre sensing another Lloyd Christmas gif as a rresponse, youre on target.ddddddddddddBut big brother has had enough.Little brother cant stop and wont stop, so he brings in left tackle, aka South Parks Eric Cartman, to lay down the law.But theres plenty more on the roster for Michigan to take a jab at.Ouch. That might have hit a nerve for the Buffs. No worries; these guys are not short in the comeback department.But Michigan aka big bro is likely over these shenanigans.?But Colorado started this.?Time to end this thing with a mic drop.Are the Buffs tactics brilliant or setting them up for a beating from the big, bad wolf?If the Buffs are as clever on the field as they are on paper, whos to say they cant pull a Home Alone and leave the Wolverines landing on their khakis?-- Courtney Schellin ' ' '
