NBA Rumors: Chicago Bulls Would Be Wise to Pursue Andrei Kirilenko over Summer

Andrei Kirilenko is interested in returning to the NBA next season, and the Chicago Bulls should place a call to his agent to express interest. Kirilenko's best quality has always been his defense. His style of play is a perfect match for the Bulls.

He recently turned down offers to return to the NBA this season, as he wanted to complete his commitment to CSKA, a team in his native Russia.

Kirilenko could play a similar defensive role for the Bulls' bench that Luol Deng plays for the starting unit. His length and athleticism gives him tremendous versatility as a defender. The bench could use a captain of sorts, that would decrease Deng's significant workload. Throughout Kirilenko's career, he has averaged two blocks and over a steal per game.

Kirlenko is also a capable scorer. He has a career scoring average of 12.4 points per game, and he shoots 36 percent from three-point range, something essential for spreading the floor for Derrick Rose.

Though the on-court pairing is a match, Kirilenko's salary could be a sticking point, as he made $17.9 million last year in Utah. Kirilenko will undoubtedly have to take at least half of that, likely more, to sign with an NBA team, especially a contender like Chicago.

He will be 31 years old in February, so a two-year deal with an option for a third, similar to Richard Hamilton's deal, would be ideal. Essentially, he would have to be brought in for a little more than the mid-level exception in the summer of 2012.

Acquiring Kirilenko further strengthens the Bulls' bench, which is one of their biggest advantages. It also provides some insurance for the Bulls at power forward. Carlos Boozer's name could begin to surface as a amnesty clause candidate if he continues to struggle with consistency and the Bulls fail to reach the NBA Finals.

Kirilenko would be an excellent fit for Chicago, no matter who starts at power forward.

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