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Andrei Kirilenko doesn't care about starting, just wants minutes to be more consistent

Mark D. Smith / USA Today Sports

With Monday's proclamation that Kevin Garnett will start at power forward for the Brooklyn Nets this season, only one starting spot realistically remains to be unsettled: one wing spot.

With Deron Williams and Joe Johnson locked in as a backcourt duo and Garnett and Brook Lopez in the front court, new head coach Lionel Hollins is left to decide whether Johnson plays the two or the three, a decision which could depend on how the other options at each position look in camp.

The team could end up using Jarrett Jack, Alan Anderson or Andrei Kirilenko as the fifth starter, with each providing certain strengths and weaknesses in the starting unit.

For Kirilenko's part, he doesn't seem to care when the minutes come, just so long as they come on the regular:

Kirilenko started just four times last season under Jason Kidd, coming off the bench on 41 occasions and averaging a career-low (by far) 19 minutes an outing. While some of his usage was dictated by nagging injury trouble, his minutes were quite all over the place:

Kirilenko's minutes will almost surely increase if he's healthy, considering the departure of Paul Pierce and Kirlenko's versatility on the defensive end of the floor. In Memphis, Hollins used a "traditional" lineup with Rudy Gay or Tayshaun Prince at the three between two traditional guards and bigs, and he may look to do the same in Brooklyn.

In any case, starting or otherwise, Kirilenko is a prime bounce-back candidate at age 33 following his worst year as a pro.

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