NBA Free Agents 2011: What Do the Utah Jazz Do About Andrei Kirilenko?

With the 24th pick in the 1999 NBA draft, the Utah Jazz selected what turned out to be the most puzzling player in the league over the last 10 years. It has been quite a wild ride.

Since the night Andrei Kirilenko was drafted, the Utah Jazz have never really known what to do with him. Throughout his career, and after 10 seasons, things have not changed.

This summer when his contract expires, the Jazz will once again try to figure out the next move for Kirilenko.

From day one, the Utah Jazz have had to adjust to whatever it was Kirilenko did next. He is definitely not a predictable player.

Drafted in 1999, he took some time to actually make it to the Jazz. When he did make the jump to the NBA, the Jazz were not sure how to handle him.

Never before had the Jazz had a defensive presence like Kirilenko who could play offensively too. Sure, they had Mark Eaton who made his career altering shots, but he was a traditional center that was not asked to play much offense.

Kirilenko's play caught everyone off guard and caused Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan to make adjustments he had never made before.

Defensively, he exploded into the league and became a player no one wanted to match up with. It took the league several years to be able to figure out his length, athleticism and shot blocking ability.

When John Stockton retired and Karl Malone left to seek a title, everyone predicted the Jazz to be awful and have to rebuild for many years. It should be no surprise that Kirilenko unexpectedly raised his game, made the All-Star team and helped the Jazz to a 42-40 finish.

Not a great finish, but much better than expected and not the worst in his time with the Jazz.

Over the next couple of seasons, Kirilenko looked to be a perennial All-Star, team leader and one of the best Jazz players of all time.

When his contract was up, The Jazz rewarded him with the now infamous max contract they felt he deserved. The Jazz were beginning to build a franchise around this unique player. Kirilienko led the NBA in blocks for the 2005-06 season.

Then Kirilenko pulled the unexpected again—his game began to decline.

Perhaps it was the arrival of Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams that took the spotlight off that caused Kirilenko's level of play to drop and Jazz fans to look at the max contract as a mistake.

His stats dropped, he became upset with coaches and his biggest news was the once a season "pass" that he was given from his wife. Things looked bleak for Kirilenko and the Jazz.

Due to his max contract, sinking trade value, and inconsistent play, not many teams were interested and the Jazz were forced to ride out the big contract that they owed to him.

So where does that leave Andrei Kirilenko now?

During this offseason, Kirilenko's max contract will expire and he will become a free agent. While this does free up a lot of cap space for the Jazz, it also gives them several options of what to offer Andrei Kirilenko.

Do the Jazz let him go without trying to keep him? How about a sign and trade? Resign him to a more reasonable contract?

Despite the frustrations fans have with Kirilenko's big contract and his inconsistencies, he still has a lot of value in the league.

There is a lot to be said for an international player with 10 years of experience. Statistically speaking, his numbers have been fairly consistent over the last several years. They do not compare to where they were in his All-Star season, but he has been consistent. 

He could be a valuable veteran for a Jazz team that seems to be getting younger. He could provide advice and guidance as one who has experienced nearly everything the league has to offer. 

He is going to draw interest from around the league. Would it be worth it to the Jazz to match contracts and keep Kirilenko?

A few weeks ago I wrote an article that asked Jazz fans where they thought Kirilenko ranks among all-time Jazz players. I would say while he is not one of the elite hall of famers, he is in the top-10.

Looking at it that way, is there a future for Kirilenko with the Jazz? It would seem wrong to not try to keep a top-10 player in the history of the franchise. Where does he fit with the direction the team is going?

If history repeats itself, the only thing we can count on is something unexpected from Andrei Kirilenko.

Chris Johstoneaux is a contributor to Bleacher Report that usually covers the NBA, and Major League Soccer. If you liked this article, please take a moment to leave me a comment and follow me on Twitter at @JazzRSLExaminer.