"Trying to describe the extremes of the Jazz's season, Andrei Kirilenko searched for a creative illustration.

"How you call the animal with stripes?" he asked.

Kirilenko explained his zebra comparison by citing the contrasting halves of the schedule.

In assessing Kirilenko's career, nothing is ever completely black-and-white with this guy. He's some mixture of the dynamic, exciting player who was awarded the Jazz's first maximum contract and the inconsistent, often-injured forward whose salary crippled the franchise.

So as Kirilenko and the Jazz determine whether to extend their 10-year relationship, here's my solution: A.K. should play for free.

Seriously, how refreshing would that be?

Asked about his free-agent priorities, Kirilenko said, "I'm definitely not going to look for the money. I think I've got enough."

The National Basketball Players Association probably would not endorse pro bono work. But what if Kirilenko signed with the Jazz for $1.4 million, a 10-year veteran's minimum salary? That would further endear him to fans who so easily forgive him for missing games at a rate approaching Carlos Boozer's, and, in essence, pay back some of the $86 million the Jazz largely wasted on him these past six seasons."