NBA Free Agents 2011: Will Shannon Brown Go to Chicago to Play Shooting Guard?

In June, Los Angeles Lakers reserve Shannon Brown chose to opt out of the final year of his contract, making him a free agent whenever the lockout ends. 

Brown, who backed up superstar guard Kobe Bryant the past two-and-a-half seasons in Los Angeles, wants to be a starter for a championship contender

Brown is from the Chicago area (suburban Maywood, Illinois) and it just so happens that his hometown Chicago Bulls are in need of an upgrade at the shooting guard position.

Last season, the Bulls finished with the NBA's top record and reached the Eastern Conference Finals, which obviously classifies them as a contender.

So will Brown decide to return home to Chicago if they make him an offer following the lockout?

If Brown does end up signing with the Bulls, it would mark his second stint with the team. The former Michigan State star appeared in six games during the 2007-08 season with the pre-Derrick Rose squad.

Speaking of Rose, last season's MVP, he and Brown would certainly form one of the league's most exciting backcourts.

Both players are extremely athletic and are two of the best dunkers that the league has to offer. Every single game, Bulls fans would get the chance to witness Youtube-worthy highlights.

Brown averaged a career-high 8.7 points per game last season, not exactly All-Star-type numbers. However, he only played about 19 minutes per night. Who knows how many points he could average if he received more playing time.

Brown, who has only started 16 games thus far in his five-year career, could become a full-time starter in Chicago, replacing last year’s starter Keith Bogans.

Brown may not be the defender that Bogans is, but Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, known as a defensive guru, could definitely teach him a thing or two about that particular aspect of the game.   

A few months ago, Rose claimed that he was going to win multiple championships someday. Brown could help the superstar point guard and fellow Chicago native reach that goal, seeing that he contributed to back-to-back title teams in Los Angeles.  

Brown, who obviously knows what it takes to be an NBA champion, could rub off positively on his ringless Bulls teammates.

Growing up in Chicago, there's a good chance that he rooted for former Bulls megastar Michael Jordan just like many of the city's kids did in the 1990s. Brown could very well start at MJ's position and help lead the Bulls to their first title since '98.     

Since Brown is not considered a star by any stretch of the imagination, the Bulls could sign the entertaining 2-guard fairly cheaply and wouldn't have to trade any key members of their squad to acquire him like Joakim Noah, Luol Deng or Taj Gibson. 

The Bulls might be able to land better scoring shooting guards such as Monta Ellis, Jamal Crawford, Jason Richardson and Nick Young, but the team would be foolish to not consider Brown as an option.