2011 NBA Free Agents: Why Arron Afflalo Is Ideal Signing for Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are among the teams in the market looking for a competent shooting guard, as their deficiencies at the two-guard position were perhaps the leading cause of their failure to reach the NBA Finals last season.

Derrick Rose is an absolute monster, but even he needs relief. He cannot hold down the responsibilities of the entire backcourt on his own if the Bulls want to win a title.

While there are an array of free-agent shooting guards available, like Jason Richardson and Jamal Crawford, and various trade possibilities like Courtney Lee and O.J. Mayo, the ideal fit for Chicago lies with Arron Afflalo.

Afflalo averaged 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game last season, production totals that make Keith Bogans' stat line of 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest seem worse—as if that was even possible. Afflalo is only 26 and adds a touch of potent youth to the Bulls' backcourt.

The understated shooting guard is a fine shooter, especially from beyond the arc, where he knocked down over 42 percent of his shots last season. He also moves inconceivably well without the ball, in addition to being able to create his own offense.

Defensively, Afflalo is no expert, but he is no slouch either.

He supports the art of playing defense with one's feet, which has made the occasions in which he gets beat off the dribble few and far between.

If the Bulls want to push themselves past that plateau and enter the realm of championship-caliber ball the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat live in, a change at the shooting guard is a necessity.

And while there may be many options on the market, they will find no better fit than Afflalo.

Rose needs someone alongside him who knows how to transition between a backstage and primary role. He needs someone who is consistently reliable and can be called upon to relieve some of scoring burden on the perimeter.

Chicago needs someone who ensures that there is no longer any potential production at the shooting guard slot left untapped. 

That someone is Afflalo.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.