NBA Free Agency: 10 Most Underrated Signings of the Offseason

Andrei Kirilenko, Brooklyn Nets

Apr 13, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Andrei Kirilenko (47) reacts after a call during the third quarter against the Phoenix Suns at the Target Center. Timberwolves won 105-93. Mandatory Credit: Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The famous, or should I say infamous, Andrei Kirilenko deal has gotten a lot of flak from people who see that Prokhorov is a Russian name and Kirilenko is a Russian name. There is really no solid evidence to indicate that anything illicit or foul occurred and I find it frankly quite ridiculous that we return to this out-dated Cold War mentality.

That being said, this deal is criminal. A two-year, $6.5 million deal for a player who averaged 12.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals and one block in 31.8 minutes is an absolute steal. Kirilenko packs the stat sheet, and will be the perfect person to back up Paul Pierce during the regular season.

For this Brooklyn Nets team to succeed next season, the veterans and starters need to be well-rested going into the playoffs, and AK47 is just the man to make sure that happens.

Kirilenko is also a great pickup, as new coach Jason Kidd will likely need to iron out some coaching kinks and a seasoned player like Kirilenko, and the rest of the Nets, will likely not need a lot of input. Kirilenko could have definitely commanded more elsewhere and this deal is arguably one of the best of this offseason.